navy diving policy and joint military diving …...commander, naval sea systems command...
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OPNAVINST 3150.27D
N97
01 Mar 2021
NAVY DIVING POLICY
AND JOINT MILITARY
DIVING TECHNOLOGY
AND TRAINING
PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 3150.27D
N97
01 Mar 2021
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3150.27D
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: NAVY DIVING POLICY AND JOINT MILITARY DIVING TECHNOLOGY AND
TRAINING PROGRAM
Ref: See appendix A
1. Purpose. To establish Navy-wide diving policy, assign authorities, delegate responsibilities,
establish Navy participation requirements in joint and Navy organizations for diving issue
resolution, standardize Navy diving program processes, and set baseline requirements for Navy
diving operations.
a. There have been several Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) directed changes for this
revision to improve Navy diving policy. Subparagraphs 1.a.(1) through 1.a.(5) summarize some
of the significant changes.
(1) Updated the responsibilities and roles of various commands with key roles in the US
diving community.
(2) Made changes and added additional items to the diving waiver and exception to
policy (ETP) process.
(3) Updated the dive mishap and near mishap reporting process and criteria.
(4) Updated the periodicity and restructured the Diving Operational Readiness Inspection
(DORI) process.
(5) Updated the members, responsibilities, and organizational charts, for the Diving
Executive Steering Committee (DiveESC), the Chief Warrant Officer-Advisory Team (CWO-
AT), and the Senior Enlisted Advisory Team (SEAT).
b. This instruction is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 3150.27C.
3. Action. Commands should conduct training with their personnel and update applicable
instructions and procedures, as appropriate.
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4. Records Management.
a. Records created as a result of this notice, regardless of format or media, must be
maintained and dispositioned per the records disposition schedules located on the Department of
the Navy Assistant for Administration, Directives and Records Management Division portal page
at https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/DUSNM/DONAA/DRM/Records-and-Information-
Management/Approved%20Record%20Schedules/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
b. For questions concerning the management of records related to this notice or the records
disposition schedules, please contact the local records manager or the OPNAV Records
Management Program (DNS-16).
5. Review and Effective Date. Per OPNAVINST 5215.17A, Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations (OPNAV), Director for Undersea Warfare (N97), will review this instruction every 5
years, on the anniversary of its issuance date to ensure applicability, currency, and consistency
with Federal, Department of Defense (DoD), SECNAV, and Navy policy and statutory authority
using OPNAV 5215/40 Review of Instruction. This instruction will automatically expire 10
years after its issuance date unless reissued or cancelled prior to the 10-year anniversary date, or
an extension has been granted.
6. Information Management Control.
a. OPNAV RCS 5102-5 has been assigned to dive mishap and near mishap reporting
contained in chapter 6 of this instruction.
b. The data and reporting requirements contained in chapter 9, subparagraphs 1c(1) through
1c(3) and subparagraphs 1d, 2f and 5g are exempt from information management control per
SECNAV Manual 5214.1 of December 2005, part IV.7.k.
W. J. HOUSTON
Director
Undersea Warfare Division
Releasability and distribution:
This instruction is cleared for public release and is available electronically only via Department
of the Navy Issuances Web site, https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/default.aspx.
OPNAVINST 3150.27D
01 Mar 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Scope 1-1
2. Discussion 1-1
3. Requirements, Policies, and Guidelines 1-2
Chapter 2 RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORGANIZATION
1. Director, Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV N97) 2-1
2. Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel; Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division 2-3
(OPNAV N95); Director, Operations and Plans Division (OPNAV N31);
Director, Fleet Readiness Division (OPNAV N43); Surgeon General of the
Navy (OPNAV N093)
3. COMNAVSEASYSCOM 2-3
4. Navy Education and Training Command (NETC) 2-5
5. CO, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CENEODDIVE) 2-6
6. Commander, Naval Facility Engineering Command (COMNAVFACENGCOM) 2-6
7. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM), and Commander, U.S. 2-7
Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)
8. Chief of Naval Personnel 2-7
9. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) 2-8
10. COMNAVSUPCOM 2-8
11. Commander, Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN) 2-8
12. Type Commander (TYCOM) and Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) 2-9
13. Commands with Assigned Diving Capabilities 2-10
Figure 2-1. Navy Dive Program Organization 2-11
Figure 2-2. Acronym and Abbreviation Legend for Figure 2-1 2-12
Chapter 3 DIVING SYSTEMS AND MATERIEL POLICY
1. Purpose 3-1
2. Requirements 3-1
Chapter 4 REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMAND DIVE BILLS OR INSTRUCTIONS
1. Standardization 4-1
2. Command Policy Minimum Areas 4-1
3. Command Dive Bill or Instruction Guidance 4-1
Figure 4-1. Command Dive Bill or Instruction Template 4-2
Chapter 5 DIVING WAIVER AND EXCEPTION TO POLICY SUBMISSION CRITERIA
AND PROCESS
1. Purpose 5-1
2. OPNAV Retained Waiver Authorities 5-1
3. Delegated Waiver Authorities 5-1
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4. Dive Waiver Request Process 5-2
5. Amplifying Information 5-3
Figure 5-1. Standard Diving Waiver Process 5-6
Chapter 6 DIVE MISHAP AND NEAR MISHAP REPORTING
1. Non-attributional 6-1
2. Other Reporting Requirements 6-1
3. Web-enabled Safety System (WESS) 6-1
4. Guidance for Reporting 6-1
5. Causes of Restricted Work, Limited Duty, and Light Duty 6-1
6. Hazard Report (HAZREP) 6-2
7. Collection of Data 6-2
8. Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigations 6-2
9. Diving Equipment Associated with Mishap 6-2
10. Examples of Hazards and Near Mishaps 6-3
Chapter 7 DIVING OPERATIONAL READINESS INSPECTION (DORI)
REQUIREMENTS
1. Purpose 7-1
2. Requirements 7-1
3. Goals 7-5
Chapter 8 DIVER QUALIFICATION, TRAINING AND DESIGNATION
1. Purpose 8-1
2. Qualification, Requalification, and Proficiency 8-1
3. Designation Letters 8-2
4. Continuing Training 8-3
5. Local Conversion Training 8-3
6. Diving Interoperability 8-4
7. Training of Civilians in NETC Diving Courses of Instruction 8-7
Chapter 9 EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE (ESC), ADVISORY TEAMS,
PROGRAM BOARD AND WORKING GROUP
1. Diving Executive Steering Committee (DiveESC) 9-1
Figure 9-1. Navy Diving Executive Steering Committee 9-3
2. Chief Warrant Officer-Advisory Team (CWO-AT) 9-4
Figure 9-2. Navy Diving CWO-AT 9-6
3. Senior Enlisted Advisory Team (SEAT) 9-7
Figure 9-3. Navy Diving SEAT 9-9
4. Joint Service Diving Organization 9-10
Figure 9-4. Joint Military Diving Technology and Training (JMDT&T) Program Board 9-11
5. Support to the NATO Underwater Divers Working Group (UDWG) 9-12
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Appendices
Appendix A. References A-1
Appendix B. Definitions B-1
Appendix C. Abbreviations and Acronyms C-1
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CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Scope.
a. OPNAV N97 has the authority and responsibility for military diving activities and is the
single manager (SM) for the Joint Military Diving Technology and Training (JMDT&T)
Program Board as specified in references (a) through (c).
b. This instruction applies to all underwater diving, dive training and manned hyperbaric
system operations conducted by the United States Navy (USN). This includes all afloat and
ashore diving activities and all diving operations performed by the Department of the Navy
(DON). The following exceptions apply:
(1) This instruction does not apply to Naval Special Warfare Command
(NAVSPECWARCOM) and the joint diving community that is unique to U.S. Special
Operations Command (USSOCOM), or to diving tools and equipment that are developed for
unique diving applications by or for USSOCOM discussed in reference (a).
(2) This instruction does not apply to sonar dome work or naval vessel hull or
compartment pressurization testing.
(3) This instruction does not apply to clinical hyperbaric oxygen treatments provided for
indications other than pressure-related injuries.
(4) This instruction does not apply to submarine personnel or equipment related to
emergency underwater free ascent escape training and operations, including related submariner
escape equipment such as the Submarine Escape and Surface Abandonment Protection
Equipment, the hood inflation system and the Virginia class submarine lockout mass escape
trunk (installed in emergency).
(5) This instruction does not apply to contracted civilian divers except to the extent it
may be incorporated into a contract. The direction of contracted civilian divers is a function of
the contracting process and contract law and is governed under policy and statute outside of this
instruction.
2. Discussion.
a. This instruction is the result of a comprehensive review with the goal of improving diving
operations and safety throughout the Navy.
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b. There are numerous organizations that provide oversight, training and resources to diving
programs. Specific responsibilities for each level of oversight are provided in chapter 2. USN
diving commands are listed under their specific Immediate Superior In Command (ISIC), Type
Commander (TYCOM) or Systems Command (SYSCOM) in figure 2-1 of chapter 2.
3. Requirements, Policies and Guidelines. This instruction provides policy and guidance for all
Navy diving life support systems, manned hyperbaric systems and their associated support
systems and processes. Any deviation or departure from these policies must be briefed to the
Commanding Officer (CO) or Officer in Charge (OIC), who is overall responsible for the safe
conduct of the unit’s diving operations, compliance with this instruction and the execution of
diving waivers and ETPs.
a. Terminology. Diving standard definitions are provided as a ready reference in appendix
B and abbreviations and acronyms are provided as a ready reference in appendix C.
b. Diving Policy.
(1) All Navy diving operations must be:
(a) Conducted by currently qualified Navy Divers using authorized for Navy use
(ANU) equipment or certified systems with approved procedures. More specific guidance
pertaining to diving systems and materiel policy is provided in chapter 3.
(b) Conducted only by commands and organizations specifically authorized to
conduct such operations.
(c) Conducted per the policy of this instruction and per reference (d).
(2) Diving Addressee Indicator Group (AIG) messages delivered as amendments to this
instruction, to reference (d) or to diving-associated systems operation and technical manuals
must be considered to have the same policy effect as either this instruction or reference (d).
(3) Each unit with a Navy diving capability must have a command dive bill or instruction
that contains the elements delineated in chapter 4.
(4) ETPs and diving waivers must be requested per chapter 5 when deviating from this
instruction, the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) established in reference (d) or the
specific diving apparatus’ operations and maintenance manual.
(5) Diving mishaps, near mishaps and hazards must be reported and handled per chapter
6 and references (d) and (e).
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Note: This guidance does not replace or supersede the operational reporting (OPREP)
requirements.
(6) The ISIC must ensure the conduct of a DORI for any USN activity conducting Navy
diving operations. The minimum inspection criteria are provided in chapter 7. Specific
inspection checklists must be developed by the Commander (i.e., SYSCOM or TYCOM).
(7) All USN activities conducting Navy diving operations must undergo a Diving Safety
Assessment (DSA) from the Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN) to provide an independent
review of diving safety practices. This survey must be conducted between 15 and 21 months of
the command’s last DORI or equivalent ISIC inspection. A DSA does not replace or extend the
requirement for a DORI.
(a) With ISIC’s concurrence, a command may waive the DSA requirement if the
DORI or equivalent ISIC inspection periodicity does not exceed 21 months.
(b) The following inspection and assessment services are available to any Fleet
Diving Activity on a by request basis: NAVSAFECEN: Diving surveys, assessments and assist
visits IAW ref (S). NAVSEASYSCOM (Code 00C3B): Diving program, equipment
inspections, assist visits and maintenance (3M) reviews.
(8) Diving reports, command dive log and record keeping must be conducted per
references (d) or (f), whichever is most restrictive.
(a) All USN activities operating recompression chambers (RCCs) must maintain a
recompression chamber log. Procedures for the maintenance of this log are provided in
reference (d). Commands must ensure recompression chamber dives are entered into Dive Jump
Reporting System (DJRS) as expeditiously as possible.
(b) Submission of diving log reports is not required by personnel working in sonar
domes, undergoing submarine escape training or aircraft emergency egress device training. If
submission of these diving logs are required for pay purposes, this policy does not preclude this
action.
(9) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Inspections. Federal
officials may conduct announced or unannounced inspections of Navy workplaces, except
military unique workplaces, workplaces staffed exclusively with military personnel or
workplaces located in foreign countries, per reference (ah). These inspections may be in
response to a complaint from a civilian employee or representative. If Federal OSHA officials
discover deficiencies during these investigations or issue reports of unsafe or unhealthful
working conditions associated with reference (x), Subpart T (OSHA diving regulations), bring
this to the immediate attention of the USN Supervisor of Diving (SUPDIVE, NAVSEA 00C3B).
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Concerning potential diving regulation violations, local Navy liaisons that interface with OSHA
must coordinate with SUPDIVE:
(a) Prior to discussions with OSHA representatives following notice of the potential
violation.
(b) Prior to local decisions taken to resolve deficiencies or take abatement actions
concerning the potential violation.
(c) Prior to formally responding to OSHA concerning the potential violation
c. Dive Qualifications, Diver Designation and Continuing Training.
(1) COs or OICs must ensure divers and dive supervisors, including Diving Officers and
Master Divers (MDV) acting in a dive station supervisory role are fully qualified and proficient
in the associated diving system(s). Commands must ensure a continuing training and proficiency
program exists so that, once qualified, assigned divers and dive supervisors can continue to
perform their mission safely and effectively.
(2) Equivalently qualified DoD or U.S. government civilian divers and, when
operationally necessary, equivalently qualified commercial divers may dive with USN dive
commands without a waiver provided the requirements in chapter 8 are met: proper permissions
are obtained, the standards for conducting the dive meet USN policy and TTPs and personnel
and equipment meet chapter 8 requirements.
(3) Requirements, Training and guidelines are provided in chapter 8, specifically:
(a) Qualification, designation and continuing training.
(b) Requirements for local training of expert personnel to support mission essential
dives.
(c) Guidelines for using equivalently qualified DoD divers.
(d) Guidelines for the training of civilians in Naval Education and Training Command
(NETC) diving courses of instruction.
d. Lessons Learned and Collaboration Tools. Self-assessment and a learning culture are
essential to ensuring a strong and safe diving capability within the Navy.
(1) A DiveESC, CWO-AT, SEAT and the NATO Underwater Diving Working Group
(UDWG) are utilized to collectively discuss lessons learned, process improvements and
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coordinate personnel and materiel advancements to support diving operations throughout the
world. Chapter 9 provides the organization, responsibilities and activities of these groups.
(2) TYCOMs, SYSCOMs, NAVSAFECEN and fleet commanders play a key role in
ensuring subordinate commands safely execute diving operations. In order to foster an
environment of continuous learning and process improvement, they must:
(a) Work together to develop processes and tools which foster a Navy diving
community with a culture of learning, making learning collaboration possible.
(b) Leverage enhanced self-assessment tools and collaborative processes (e.g., mobile
media, Web-based training products, etc.) to help rapidly improve military diving readiness and
safety.
(c) Collect, assess and publish diving lessons learned, best practices and commonly
noted discrepancies identified through the process of inspections, assessments and reviews of
diving programs and equipment. This information must be continuously integrated into diver
training plans and be readily available to any fleet diving activity upon request. This document
must be published annually.
e. Manned Biomedical and Human Performance Research. As a function of validating and
improving equipment testing and certification, diving procedures and diver health & safety,
studies should be conducted that endeavor to increase understanding of human performance,
physiology and survivability in undersea hyperbaric environments.
f. Diving Personnel Management.
(1) Diving billets will be established or changed per reference (g).
(2) DON civilian divers must maintain the same medical and proficiency qualifications
and requalify in the same manner as prescribed for military divers of comparable classification,
with additional requirements as listed in subparagraphs 3f(2)(a) through 3f(2)(c).
(a) Comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and
Navy requirements, whichever is more restrictive.
(b) Any DON civilian assigned as a dive supervisor must be dive qualified, current
and proficient in the diving equipment for which they are designated as a supervisor, personnel
qualification standards (PQS) qualified and designated in writing by the current CO.
(c) DON civilian divers eligible for dive pay per 5 CFR 532.281 must only claim
dive pay for shifts during which they have actually conducted dives.
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(3) All Navy Qualified Divers must receive periodic diving physical examinations to
remain physically qualified (PQ) per reference (h). Requests for waivers of these physical
standards must be submitted to Bureau of Navy Personnel (BUPERS) via BUMED, Undersea
Medicine and Radiation Health.
(4) All qualified Navy Divers, as defined by this instruction, must be eligible to receive
special diving duty pay.
(a) Diving duty pay may be rescinded if a Navy Qualified Diver cannot perform
diving duties due to physical, requalification or proficiency limitations.
(b) The requirements of reference (i) pertain and every effort must be made to
maintain or regain currency and proficiency by frequent and regular dives per reference (j).
(c) In order to appropriately balance legitimately competing readiness requirements
without unintentionally penalizing a diver, special diving duty pay must not be automatically
rescinded unless the CO or OIC determines that the diver will not be able to meet the
requirements of reference (i) within a reasonable period of time, typically within the next
requalification cycle, and the ISIC concurs with this finding. The ISIC should be informed any
time a diver exceeds the second requalification or proficiency cycle for further adjudication.
(5) Divers assigned by official orders to staffs or other pipeline billets (e.g., War College,
Senior Enlisted Academy, etc.) where executing their primary mission or remote geographical
location precludes access to diving opportunities may submit a waiver request to their designator
manager within BUPERS for consideration and final waiver approval.
(6) Undersea medical officers (UMO) serving at diving commands need to be both dive-
qualified and medically competent to practice undersea medicine. In addition to the diving
requalification requirements of this instruction and reference (i), UMOs returning to duty
involving diving medicine after five or more years away from undersea medicine responsibilities
must complete a BUMED-approved UMO refresher training that re-familiarizes the UMO with
current protocols related to the recognition and treatment of diving disorders.
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CHAPTER 2
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORGANIZATION
1. Director, Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV N97).
a. Serve as Navy focal point and Joint Diving Single Point Manager for diving issues
supporting the Navy and joint diving related warfighting capabilities. OPNAV N97 ensures
diving policy and resource sponsorship, as delineated herein, best supports tasks and functions to
ensure combatant commanders have prompt, sustainable and dominant maritime forces
supporting national objectives.
b. Establish requirements, set priorities and direct planning and programming for Navy
diving capabilities, addressing emerging missions in a rapid and scalable manner; maintain Navy
lead of diving and ensure lessons learned are captured and institutionalized in the enduring Navy
diving capability. Specifically:
(1) Coordinate, publish and maintain Navy Diving Program policies.
(2) Serve as the resource and warfare sponsor for assigned Navy diving systems,
acquisition programs and research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) efforts.
(3) Coordinate fleet requests to establish requirements for Navy specific diving systems
and equipment.
(4) Serve as the chair of the DiveESC.
(5) Establish policy for DON civilian divers.
(6) Coordinate USN diving matters with other Services, Government agencies and
designated civil authorities.
(7) Coordinate USN diving efforts with those of allied navies and establish policy for
Navy dive training and operations when diving with foreign divers.
(8) Approve ETPs and diving waivers per chapter 5.
(9) Designate a post command O5 or O6, unrestricted line Explosive Ordnance Disposal
(EOD) officer as Deputy Director for Diving (DepDive), Undersea Warfare Division, to provide
overall coordination of USN diving policy and programs. When possible, this position must be
filled by a previous Supervisor of Diving (SupDive). DepDive must:
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(a) Act as OPNAV N97’s executive agent in the development of diving policy and
programs and advise OPNAV N97 on diving matters.
(b) Serve as secretary to the DiveESC.
(c) Serve as OPNAV N97 advisor for diving policy and programs on the JMDT&T
Program Board.
(d) Coordinate with the NAVSEASYSCOM Director of Ocean Engineering
(NAVSEA 00C) for technical exchanges. SupDive must function as Technical Project Officer
(TPO).
(e) Serve as Head of U.S. delegation for multinational diving working groups (i.e.
NATO, ABCANZ). Responsible for coordination and oversight of working group participation,
liaison officer assignment, NATO publications and working group products, reports and lessons
learned.
(f) Coordinate with the State Department, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (OPNAV N3/N5) and the
Director, International Engagement (OPNAV N5I) for the delegation of responsibilities to
negotiate multinational memorandum of agreement (MOAs) or memorandum of understanding
(MOUs) associated with diving and manned hyperbaric systems.
(g) Act as OPNAV N97 advisor for diving policy and programs on the JMDT&T
Technical Training Acceptance Board (TTAB) and Military Technical Acceptance Board
(MTAB) panels, as well as the Salvage Executive Steering Committee (ESC).
(h) Ensure diving policy coordination with USSOCOM.
(i) Act as Navy lead agent for diving related air-land-sea application (ALSA)
multiservice TTPs and provide support to working groups.
(j) Provide support to OPNAV staff for diving related policy and programs for
coordination, integration and interoperability within Navy and across multinational, interagency
and interservice programs, including exercises, clearance and salvage operations, humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief, submarine rescue and escape, arctic operations and research and
general purpose forces and special operations forces (SOF) integration and support.
(k) Retain overall responsibility for Naval Message AIG 239, Diving safety and
notifications.
c. Serve as the flag officer (FO) appointed as SM, JMDT&T Program Board per reference
(a). The requirements and responsibilities for this position include:
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(1) Develop, maintain and fund Service common diving research and development
programs, acquisition programs for diving tools and equipment and diving procedures.
(2) Coordinate the Navy oversight of all common type military dive training.
(3) Serve as the DoD primary point of contact for all international diving policy
agreements, including those with NATO.
2. Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (OPNAV N95),
Director, Operations and Plans Division (OPNAV N31), Director, Fleet Readiness Division
(OPNAV N43), Surgeon General of the Navy (CNO N093).
a. Provide representation to the DiveESC.
b. Ensure that Navy-wide diving requirements are brought to the DiveESC for
consideration, analysis, acceptance and assignment to a resource sponsor, as necessary.
c. Assume resource and requirement sponsorship over those diving programs that fall firmly
under their purview.
3. Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEASYSCOM).
COMNAVSEASYSCOM is designated as the technical authority for design, acquisition, system
certification and ANU designation for all Navy diving life support and manned hyperbaric
systems including open and closed circuit underwater breathing apparatus and equipment (Ref
ab). COMNAVSEASYSCOM must:
a. Designate an O6, dive-qualified, Engineering Duty Officer as the USN Supervisor of
Salvage (SUPSALV) to provide overall coordination of the USN diving technical program.
SUPSALV must:
(1) Serve as the technical authority for diver life support and manned hyperbaric systems
and equipment.
(a) Provide research and development, design, acquisition management and repair
assistance for diver life support equipment, manned hyperbaric systems, surface supported
diving systems, saturation diving systems and diving tools and equipment.
(b) Provide tailored, integrated logistic support (ILS) and life cycle management of
acquired NAVSEA sponsored hardware.
(c) Provide technical support for the development of required diving system
alterations. Serve as the technical review authority for all diving related ship alteration requests
and engineering change proposals.
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(d) Establish, publish and maintain publications as necessary to provide consistent,
accurate technical guidance and safe operational and emergency procedures (EP).
(e) Establish and administer programs and procedures for testing and evaluation of
commercially available equipment leading to ANU designation or system certification per
references (k) and (m). Create and maintain the ANU database, perform diving hazard and
engineering analysis of all diver life support and diving equipment for ANU acceptance and
serve as the risk acceptance authority for diving equipment.
(f) Partner with the warfighter to develop timely, cost effective solutions to support
and improve manned operations in undersea and other extreme environments through biomedical
research and independent testing and evaluation of equipment and procedures.
(2) Serve as the OPNAV N97 deputy for technology for JMDT&T.
(3) Coordinate policy and operational requirements for the Navy Diving Program through
OPNAV N97 and participates as a non-voting member on the DiveESC.
(4) For special operations peculiar or DoD component unique (not Service common)
diving equipment, upon request and receipt of funding from USSOCOM or Commander, Naval
Special Warfare Command (COMNAVSPECWARCOM), provide technical and procedural
support, risk assessment and alternatives, test and certify equipment and serve as the technical
liaison between COMNAVSPECWARCOM and the Navy.
(5) As required, provide technical risk assessments for diving waivers or ETPs. The
waiver or ETP requestor is required to provide a lead time between 30-180 days (depending on
the complexity) and fund any required travel.
(6) Serve as the System Certification Authority (SCA) (except as listed in Ch 1) for all
manned diving life support and manned hyperbaric systems:
(a) Conduct system certification surveys per reference (m) of all manned diving life
support and manned hyperbaric systems.
(b) Maintain a database on the certification status of all Navy diving life support and
manned hyperbaric systems.
(7) Designate a post command O5 or O6 unrestricted line EOD Officer to serve as the
Navy’s Supervisor of Diving (SupDive). SupDive must:
(a) Act as the fleet’s principal focal point for coordination of the Navy Diving
Program.
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(b) Serve, when available, as the appointed senior member of any safety investigation
board (SIB) involving a diving related mishap. SupDive must be a member of SIB if a fatality
results from a diving mishap.
(c) Coordinate responses to the diving community and the risk acceptance authorities
following technical review of all diving related waivers, requests for addition to the ANU,
changes to reference (d) and Navy wide diving advisories.
(d) Lead a Quality Assurance Surveillance Program (QASP) to ensure activities
conducting DORI are doing so per established policy and within required periodicity.
(e) Ensure that one Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) and one MDV assigned to
NAVSEA 00C are designated as the diving CWO-AT chair and the SEAT chair, respectively.
(f) Serve as the chair to the MTAB of the JMDT&T.
(g) Serve as TPO and administer and execute technical information exchange within
ABCANZ, the NATO UDWG and other information exchange agreements, as appropriate.
(h) Provide lessons learned and collaboration tools per Chapter 1, paragraph 3.d of
this instruction.
(8) Support biomedical research in partnership with BUMED and ONR to advance and
improve diver health, safety and performance. Expenditures must be prioritized toward areas
where documented operational gaps exist.
b. Designate the NAVSEASYSCOM Deputy Commander for Undersea Warfare (NAVSEA
07) as the SCA for deep submergence systems. Ensure NAVSEA 00C reviews the design and
participates in the testing, audits and surveys of systems that include diving life support.
c. Upon request and receipt of funding from COMNAVSPECWARCOM or USSOCOM,
COMNAVSEASYSCOM must provide technical and procedural support, provide risk
assessments and alternatives, test and certify equipment and serve as a technical liaison.
4. Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).
a. Exercise administrative control (ADCON) of Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal
and Diving (CENEODDIVE).
b. Continuously monitor the quality of curriculum, instruction and evaluation functions of
CENEODDIVE.
c. Develop and publish personnel qualification requirements for divers.
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d. Provide CENEODDIVE with guidance and assistance in the preparation, coordination,
monitoring, review and revision of programs of instruction.
e. Establish and administer basic, advanced and specialized diver training.
f. Establish, publish and maintain PQS for divers.
g. Ensure all NETC commands that conduct diving operations receive DORIs per this
instruction.
5. Commanding Officer, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CO,
CENEODDIVE).
a. Exercise ADCON of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Naval Diving and
Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Learning Site Great Lakes, ND and EOD preparatory course.
b. Continuously monitor the quality of the curriculum, instruction and evaluation functions
of CENEODDIVE learning sites.
c. Train officer and enlisted personnel of all components of DoD per references (d), (g). (i)
and references (p) through (t).
d. Ensure training requirements unique to the Navy Diving Program are provided.
e. Ensure all high risk training is conducted per reference (p).
f. Ensure any new training requirements are validated and resourced per reference (u).
g. Validate all TTAB proposed training requirements prior to presentation at the JMDT&T
Program Board.
h. Maintain, review and revise all interservice support agreements and MOAs as necessary
to support interservice training requirements.
i. Provide change recommendations to OPNAV N97 prior to issue of qualification or
system conversion guidance.
6. Commander Naval Facility Engineering Command (COMNAVFACENGCOM).
a. Develop and maintain a naval construction force diver capability for underwater
construction, installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, repair and disposal of near shore
and deep ocean facilities.
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(1) Provide technical expertise to the CNO and other SYSCOMs in the area of
construction as they relate to facility requirements.
(2) Initiate and administer contracts for commercial diving services as required.
Coordinate such contractual efforts with fleet commanders to support fleet operations.
b. As prescribed by reference (ab), COMNAVFACENGCOM maintains technical authority
over buildings, including buildings which house diver life support systems and diver hyperbaric
systems (DLSS & DHS), throughout the building life-cycle (planning, design, construction,
inspection, certification and maintenance). Nothing in this instruction is intended to conflict
with that authority however; this authority must integrate with COMNAVSEASYSCOM
technical authority for diving methods and equipment. Accordingly, for all DLSS and DHS,
housed inside fixed ashore facilities, the system DLSS & DHS Scope of Certification (SOC)
documents must clearly identify the interface between DLSS & DHS, where
COMNAVSEASYSCOM technical and certification authority ends and building systems, where
COMNAVFACENGCOM technical authority begins.
7. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM), and Commander, Pacific
Fleet (COMPACFLT).
a. Implement these policies in all assigned subordinate activities involved in manned diving
and hyperbaric operations.
b. Establish policy that enables subordinate commanders to:
(1) Monitor the readiness and operational performance of commands with assigned
diving capability through the DORI. Specific inspection checklists must be developed by the
respective Commander (e.g., SYSCOM, TYCOM, etc.) using chapter 7 of this instruction.
(2) Maintain an active and engaged lessons learned program that effectively collects,
analyzes, consolidates and disseminates diving related lessons learned.
(3) Provide organized, equipped, qualified and proficient Navy Diving forces as directed
by higher authority.
(4) Provide fleet representatives to the USN DiveESC as described in chapter 9 of this
instruction.
8. Chief of Naval Personnel.
a. Ensure dive qualified personnel standards are consistent with the requirements of the
Navy Diving Program.
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b. Ensure sufficient qualified personnel are trained to meet the Navy Diving Program
requirements.
c. Lead the effort to establish and issue diver qualification and requalification criteria
(including diving officer, MDV, and dive supervisor requalification) and the administrative
procedures for documentation in member’s service records.
d. Establish, monitor, and administer career paths for dive qualified personnel under
existing personnel management policies, consistent with the needs of the Navy.
e. Ensure CENEODDIVE is appointed the deputy manager for diving training.
9. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED).
a. Establish physical standards for divers and coordinate proposed changes with the
appropriate resource sponsors, diving and special operations community stakeholders.
b. Coordinate the selection and training (including clinical refresher training) of UMO, deep
sea diving independent duty corpsmen (IDC) and Diving Medical Technicians (DMT) with
CENEODDIVE.
c. Coordinate USN diving medical matters with other Services, government agencies and
designated civil authorities, as required.
d. Ensure subordinate diving commands comply with this instruction by conducting DORIs,
as required. Specific DORI checklists must be developed by the responsible Commander.
e. Coordinate with COMNAVSEASYSCOM and other biomedical research facilities, as
necessary, to develop procedures and medical protocols to support the undersea warfighter under
all environmental conditions. Development must be prioritized toward areas where operational
gaps for existing mandated capabilities already exist and should consider the health, safety and
performance of the entire dive team.
10. Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (COMNAVSUPCOM).
a. Provide material support according to reference (v) for diving and hyperbaric systems
and equipment to meet fleet requirements.
b. Maintain liaison with COMNAVSEASYSCOM according to existing program support
agreements and provide supply management guidance for Navy diving equipment and systems.
11. Commander, Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN).
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a. Carry out the provisions of references (r) and (u) as they relate to the Navy Diving
Program.
b. Maintain a data repository for all aspects of diving safety, including records of each Navy
dive. Analyze compiled data for trends in personnel and equipment performance and procedural
adequacy. Periodically distribute findings to all diving commands and the DiveESC at least
annually.
c. Provide assistance in the area of diving safety to all diving commands and to
COMNAVSEASYSCOM, as required. Advise OPNAV N97 on the status of, or changes to, the
Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) program as it relates to diving.
d. Conduct DSAs and assistance visits to all Navy diving activities per the provisions of this
instruction and as requested.
e. As directed by the CNO, or as requested by fleet commanders, assist in the investigation
of diving mishaps per reference (e). Determine if changes to the Navy Diving Program policies,
procedures or training are indicated to preclude recurrence of similar mishaps and submit
recommendations to the cognizant authority.
f. Attend annual NAVSEA Technical Authority and SCA meeting.
12. Type Commander (TYCOM) and Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC).
a. Provide proficiency standards, including periodicity, to subordinate commands to ensure
currency and competency requirements for divers, diving officers, MDV and dive supervisors, as
applicable.
b. Provide continuing training requirements to subordinate commands for divers, diving
officers, MDV and dive supervisors, as applicable to ensure that level of knowledge (LOK)
remains sufficient to accomplish their duties and responsibilities.
c. Develop processes and tools that foster a culture of learning. Regularly issue lessons
learned, particularly those directly linked to unit readiness certification milestones. Mishap and
near-mishap reports and operational gains, with video when possible, must rapidly be made
available to subordinate commands to leverage knowledge in real time rather than waiting for
them to be pushed out as doctrine.
d. Provide requirements for designation letters to subordinate commands. Designation
letters should clearly articulate the expectations of the CO or OIC to include qualification
requirements, authority, responsibilities and training requirements. The Navy’s readiness
generation process, normally established via the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) and
inter deployment training cycle, is fundamental to developing safe and competent supervisors at
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all levels of responsibility and command. To that end, it is expected that a diving officer, MDV
or dive supervisor designation letter would typically be more restrictive at the beginning of an
OFRP. In general, no Navy enlisted classification (NEC) or previous qualification must relieve
the CO or OIC of assuring both divers and senior supervisors have passed through appropriate
readiness attainment gates per the OFRP. The TYCOM and ISIC should determine if it is
appropriate for subordinate commands to update designation letters throughout the OFRP.
Creation of standardized letters for milestones throughout the OFRP should be considered to
ease any administrative burden.
e. Ensure subordinate commands completion of DORI and DSA to ensure compliance with
requirements.
13. Commands with Assigned Diving Capabilities.
a. Ensure effectiveness and competency in diving operations from the CO or OIC down
through all levels of the chain of command. Coordinate with TYCOM/ISIC/NAVSAFECEN to
ensure completion of DORI and DSA.
b. Ensure dive team members comply with written procedures and policy.
c. Ensure the engagement of any billeted CWO, diver officer and MDV.
d. Assign a safety officer or Operational Risk Management (ORM) manager who:
(1) With respect to diving, provides expertise in incorporating ORM into planned diving
evolutions and safety related training to divers and diver support personnel.
(2) Will be given department head status and seniority in order to coordinate the safety
program effectively.
e. Generate a command dive bill or instruction that issues the information delineated in
chapter 4.
f. Maintain an official diving log of all dives conducted at the command. This log is an
official record and is to be retained for 3 years.
g. The CO or OIC should seek technical advice from NAVSEA 00C and receive specific
authorization from the chain of command as delineated in either TYCOM or ISIC instructions
prior to authorizing a dive not conducted per this instruction or the Navy Dive Manual. In the
event this is not permitted due to operational constraints, the ISIC, TYCOM and OPNAV N97
should be informed at the first opportunity.
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Figure 2-1
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Acronym and Abbreviation Legend for Figure 2-1
ASTC – Aviation Survival Training Center
ATC – Advanced Training Command
BN - Battalion
BNGR – Bangor
BUD/S – Basic Underwater
Demolition/SEAL
BUMED - Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
BUPERS – Bureau of Naval Personnel
CENEODD – Center for EOD and Diving
CSFE – Center Seabee and Facilities
Engineering
CENSEALSWCC – Center for Sea, Air, and
Land and Special Warfare Combatant-craft
Crewman
CMC – Commandant of the Marine Corps
CNFJ – Commander, Naval Forces Japan
CNIC – Commander, Navy Installations
Command
CNRSE – Commander, Navy Region
Southeast
CO- Company
COMAIRPAC – Commander, Air Forces
Pacific
COMCAMPAC – Combat Camera Pacific
COMNAVPERSCOM – Commander, Naval
Personnel Command
COMNAVREGMAINTCEN – Commander,
Navy Regional Maintenance Center
COMSUBFOR – Commander, Submarine
Forces
COMSUBPAC – Commander, Submarine
Forces Pacific
DET – Detachment
EXCOMCAM – Expeditionary Combat
Camera
EXW - Naval Facilities Engineering and
Expeditionary Warfare Center
EODESU – EOD Expeditionary Support Unit
EODGRU – EOD Group
EODMU – EOD Mobile Unit
NAVMEDEDTRAN – Naval Medical
Education Training
NAVMEDRSCHCEN – Naval Medical
Research Center
NAVSCIATTS – Naval Small Craft and
Technical Training School
NAVSCOLEOD – Naval School EOD
NAVSPECWARCEN – Naval Special
Warfare Center
NCG – Naval Construction Group
NDSTC - Naval Diving and Salvage Training
Center
NECC – Naval Expeditionary Combat
Command
NECCPAC – NECC Pacific
NMOTC – Navy Medicine Operational
Training Center
NSMRL – Naval Submarine Medical
Research Laboratory
NSSF – Naval Submarine Support Facility
NSSC – NASA shared services center
NSWC – Naval Surface Warfare Center
NSWDEVGRU – Naval Special Warfare
Development Group
NSWGRU – Naval Special Warfare Group
NSWU – Naval Special Warfare Unit
NUWC – Naval Undersea Warfare Center
PHNST & IMF – Pearl Harbor Naval
Shipyard and Immediate Maintenance
Facility
PNSY – Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
PSNS & IMF – Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
and Immediate Maintenance Facility
SERMC – Southeast Regional Maintenance
Center
SLC – Submarine Learning Center
SOCOM – Special Operations Command
SRF – Ship Repair Facility
SSN – Nuclear Submarine
Figure 2-2
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EODTEU – EOD Training and Evaluation
Unit
FL - Florida
GRU – Group
JRM - Joint Region Marianas
MARDIV – Marine Division
MARFORCOM – Marine Forces Command
MARFORPAC – Marine Forces Pacific
MARMC – Mid-Atlantic Regional
Maintenance Center
MARSOC - Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command
MD – Maryland
MDSU – Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit
MEF – Marine Expeditionary Force
MSOB – Marine Special Operations Battalion
MSOR – Marine Special Operations
Regiment
NAVBASE – Naval Base
NAVSTA – Naval Station
SUBDEVRON – Submarine Development
Squadron
SUBSCOL – Submarine School
SUBRON – Submarine Squadron
SUBGRU – Submarine Group
SWRMC – Southwest Regional Maintenance
Center
RI – Rhode Island
RMC – Regional Maintenance Center
RSG – Regional Support Group
TD&E – Testing, Development, and
Evaluation
TRF – Trident Refit Facility
URC – Undersea Rescue Command
USNA – United States Naval Academy
WA – Washington
Figure 2-2
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CHAPTER 3
DIVING SYSTEMS AND MATERIEL POLICY
1. Purpose. To provide amplifying guidance concerning diving related systems including: use
of equipment during diving operations, compressed oxygen standards, manned hyperbaric
system requirements, notification of UMOs prior to diving, and coordination between
organizations throughout the Navy Diving Program for materiel related issues.
2. Requirements.
a. All diving equipment must be provided by the USN.
(1) Use of non-Navy diving equipment is not authorized, unless approved under the
process or provisions contained in chapters 5 and 8.
(2) USN divers permanently assigned to the armed forces of allied nations under the
personnel exchange program (PEP) are permitted to use foreign diving equipment and comply
with the operational standards of that allied force.
b. For surface supplied diving and saturation diving, dynamic positioning ships must meet
International Maritime Organization class 2 or class 3 standards, as set forth in reference (d).
c. Equipment and systems used by DON civilian divers must meet the additional
requirements of reference (x).
d. Diving systems and recompression chambers must be operated per the specific
COMNAVSEASYSCOM approved procedures for that system, as applicable.
e. Breathing gases used for diving operations with ANU approved or certified systems must
meet breathing purity standards set forth in reference (d).
f. All diving and manned hyperbaric systems (portable, afloat, fixed ashore) will be
certified or ANU listed or will require a waiver/ETP. In addition to the guidance in this
paragraph, chapters 5 and 8 apply.
(1) Complete diving systems, manned hyperbaric systems, diver life support systems and
equipment which are the result of developmental programs, and other diving equipment
designated by NAVSEA 00C, will be certified per references (d), (l) and (m) and a certificate of
system certification will be issued by the SCA.
(2) Manned dives pursuant to system certification and authorized by the SCA do not
require a waiver. This applies to any system designed for surface supplied diving, saturation
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diving, manned recompression chamber operations, on the bottom habitats, diver worn UBA
(excluding SCUBA) or handling systems which will maneuver divers during manned operations.
(3) With prior authorization from NAVSEA 00C, manned dives utilizing uncertified or
non-ANU life support diving equipment may be conducted by the Navy Experimental Diving
Unit (NEDU). Manned diving utilizing non-life support diving equipment and tools may be
conducted by Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Naval Undersea Warfare Center,
COMNAVFACENGCOM Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Naval Submarine
Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) or NEDU. Regardless of the facility involved, manned
diving of uncertified or non-ANU diving life support equipment must be conducted under the
cognizance of a NAVSEA 00C approved test plan. Testing must adhere to the procedures for
protection of human test subjects contained in references (h) and (n). Activities, not specifically
listed above, conducting Navy manned diving for RDT&E involving uncertified or non-ANU
equipment must do so only with an OPNAV N97 approved waiver.
(a) Testing must be for unmanned tests only.
(b) The procedure must ensure compliance with references (h) and (i) reentry control
procedures. Note: a system which is opened, tested, restored and subsequently closed within the
reentry control process and is not contaminated should not automatically be considered to have
lost certification or be outside of configuration.
(c) Testing procedures must be reviewed by NAVSEA 00C for compliance with the
ability to meet the requirements of the reentry control process.
(4) COMNAVSEASYSCOM should consider alternate processes for equipment,
materials, apparatus, arrangements, procedures or tests normally required if it can be
demonstrated the substitutes provide an appropriate or increased level of safety.
(5) COMNAVSEASYSCOM must, upon request by OPNAV N97, support collaborative
discussions as to whether the use of any particular equipment, materiel, apparatus, arrangement,
procedure or test is unreasonable or impractical and, as such, attempt to clarify considerations or
concerns regarding the use of alternate equipment, materiel, apparatus, arrangement, procedure
or test to such an extent and upon such condition that ensures a degree of safety consistent with
the standard.
(6) Examples of sources for alternate equipment, materiel, apparatus, arrangement,
procedure or tests which can be used for collaborative comparative discussion and potential
assessment include processes and equipment from within the ABCANZ exchange agreement, are
NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) compliant programs or systems or have a
longstanding history of safe use by commercial industry, other services or other countries.
Details to support collaboration within the NATO UDWG are described in chapter 9.
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(7) Recompression chambers and their availability should meet standards established in
reference (d).
g. All air compressors that produce diver breathing air must be sampled every six months
(not to exceed nine months), when system overhaul is complete and when contamination is
suspected per the cleanliness standards of reference (d).
h. All USN dive stations must be equipped with a means of emergency communications
(e.g., cell phone, marine band radio), a first aid kit, portable oxygen with a bag valve mask and a
means to immobilize and extract an injured diver. An automated external defibrillator is highly
recommended on the dive side. If it is impractical to include any of this equipment on a limited
dive platform, then this equipment must be as close as practical and staged for emergency use.
i. Prior to any USN dive, the dive supervisor, MDV, or diving officer, must identify and
contact the nearest qualified USN UMO and the nearest USN certified recompression chamber to
ensure their availability in the event of a diving casualty per the requirements of reference (d). If
the duty chamber maintains an on-call or on-duty UMO watchbill, then there is no need to
separately contact the UMO prior to the dive. If utilizing a non-USN certified recompression
Chamber for level III support, ensure positive communications with the facility to ensure support
availability.
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CHAPTER 4
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMAND DIVE BILLS OR INSTRUCTIONS
1. Standardization. In order to reduce the administrative burden and increase standardization,
TYCOMs and ISICs are encouraged to produce templates for standardized dive bills or
instructions where it makes sense to do so.
2. Command Policy Minimum Areas. Command policy for the minimum areas listed in
subparagraphs 2a through 2d must be addressed in the dive bill or instruction.
a. Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIR), constraints, restraints and no-
go criteria in support of diving operations.
b. Breath hold dives.
c. Exceptional exposure dives, cold/warm water dives, special radiation or contamination
dives, emergent dives, single closure to sea, other unique or special mission dives and dives
conducted in conditions considered to be exceptionally arduous, where applicable.
d. Mandatory briefings, including unique command, special mission and ORM.
3. Command Dive Bill or Instruction Guidance. In lieu of a TYCOM or ISIC-provided standard, figure
4-1 should be used for command level dive bills or ship’s diving instructions. Note: Any example
provided by any specific paragraph in figure 4-1 is only an example and is not intended to provide policy
regarding that subject area.
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COMMAND DIVE BILL OR INSTRUCTION TEMPLATE
1. Purpose
2. List of Current References
3. Formal Command Diving Organization Chart
4. Responsibilities
a. CO (or OIC). (Examples include)
(1) Ultimately responsible for the safe conduct of all diving operations.
(2) Establish CO’s critical information requirements (CCIR) associated with diving
operations.
(3) Requirement to approve the conduct of exceptional exposure dives that meet the
threshold of an operational imperative as delineated in the Navy Dive Manual (NDM) may be
conducted only with the approval of the CO.
(4) Personally approve any breath hold dives. Pre-evolution briefs in preparation for a
breath hold dive must include the final end-state for the breath hold dive to prevent mission creep.
(5) Be briefed by mission commander or planners to confirm planning and risk management
complies with the command’s ORM process and is sufficient to safely conduct diving operations.
The length and scope of the brief is scalable commensurate with the complexity of the dive,
experience of personnel and the status of applicable equipment. Standard operating procedures are
acceptable to meet the briefing requirement but must be approved by the CO or OIC as part of the
dive bill or instruction or in writing prior to the evolution.
(6) Require an approved qualified watch stander List (QWL) for divers and diving
supervisors.
b. Command Diving Officer. Examples include:
(1) List the qualification required prior to earning designation letter.
(2) List responsibility and authority of the command diving officer in the designation letter.
c. Watch Station Qualified Diving Officers. Examples include:
(1) List the qualification requirements prior to earning designation letter.
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Figure 4-1 (2) List responsibility and authority of the command diving officer in the designation
letter.
d. MDVs. Examples include providing technical advice for the dive supervisors, dive
officers and the chain of command.
(1) List the qualification requirements prior to earning designation letter.
(2) List responsibility and authority of the MDV in the designation letter.
(3) Maintains the diver training program to include scheduling frequent training dives
to ensure that assigned divers maintain qualifications, system certification and apply ORM
principles.
(4) Provide oversight of preventive and corrective maintenance on diving equipment,
support systems, salvage machinery, handling systems and submarine rescue equipment.
(5) Review risk assessments associated ORM prior to briefing the CO/OIC.
e. Dive Supervisors. Examples include:
(1) Command personnel qualification standard (PQS) requirements or on the job
training needed prior to earning designation letter.
(2) List responsibility and authority of the command’s diving supervisor. There may be
several levels of dive supervisor or a single qualification, depending on the systems and
missions of the command.
f. UMO. Examples include:
(1) List the qualification requirements prior to earning designation letter.
(2) List responsibility and authority of the UMO in the designation letter.
(3) List responsibilities of the assigned or regional UMO “Bends Watch Bill.”
(4) List of Continuing Medical Education (CME) required. (Example: UMO Refresher
Course, which is provided by Naval Undersea Medicine Institute in Groton to UMOs returning
to the community after >5 years away from practice in the field. Any additional CME required
in order to maintain their state license.)
g. IDC or DMT. Examples include:
Figure 4-1
OPNAVINST 3150.27D
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Figure 4-1
(1) List the qualification requirements of the IDC or DMT.
(2) List responsibility and authority of the IDC or DMT.
(3) Identify Medical Officer / organization supervising IDC/DMT medical procedures.
(4) List of CME required for the billet to maintain proficiency in references (z) and (af).
5. Regulations. Examples include:
a. List all unique command or mission-centric regulations. Specifically state that breath-hold
diving is not normally executed where diving equipment is available. For those rare occasions
where it is authorized by the CO, the methods to be used, constraints, restraints and “No Go”
criteria must be specifically addressed within the command dive bill or instruction.
b. List specific safety regulations for diving.
(1) List safe distances from sonar and sea suctions.
(2) List tag out and radiological controls (RADCON) procedures.
c. List regulations associated with non-typical evolutions such as unique training dives,
familiarization dives, boat operations, combined diver-unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV)
operations and actions for dive emergencies.
d. List requirements for applicable briefs; for example, mission purpose, method and end state,
clearly delineating the requirements for safety and ORM, dive station, navigation, etc. In general,
when conducting dive operations on and around ships, the diving supervisor must advise the
appropriate duty officers and duty section personnel on the affected or nearby ships. The dive bill
or instruction should clearly articulate the CO’s or OIC’s expectations for who is to be briefed.
6. Procedures. This section should list any mission centric procedures, regulations or policies not
covered elsewhere in the Dive Bill or requiring additional detail.
7. ORM. ORM might not be included in the command dive bill or instruction if published in
another ships instruction, however; the command dive bill or instruction should specifically cite
that instruction to ensure it is used when appropriate. If included in the dive bill then examples of
areas that might be covered are listed in subparagraphs 7a through 7c.
a. Specify the expected command ORM process and requirements.
b. List delegated signature authorities for severity and residual risk assessment code (RAC)
levels.
Figure 4-1
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Figure 4-1
c. Direct that ORM deliberate risk assessment, per OPNAVINST 3500.39C, with follow
on mission planning and time critical risk management (TCRM), must consider the sum of all
factors (e.g., environmental hazards, human performance related factors that affect safe
operation and divers, etc.). Several examples of areas for consideration include:
(1) Diving at elevation.
(2) Diving in cold water and cold climates.
(3) Utilizing unique equipment or equipment seldom used which might impact a diver’s
and dive team’s proficiency.
(4) Utilizing unique personal protective equipment or equipment seldom used which
might impact a diver’s and dive team’s proficiency.
(5) Diving with restricted access to the surface or restricted visibility.
(6) Diving in proximity to ordnance.
8. Safety Precautions for Diving Operations. List items not listed elsewhere in the bill which
requires highlighting.
9. Dive Checklists, Guides and Action Plans. Examples include:
a. Tag out procedures and isolations. The ship’s duty section must take all actions to
ensure that shipboard systems which may affect diver safety are properly configured and tagged
out prior to commencing diving operations and remain so until the completion of diving
operations per NAVSEA S0400-AD-URM-010/TUM Revision 7, Tag Out User’s Manual, and
NAVSEA SS521-AG-PRO-010 Revision 6, Navy Dive Manual.
b.Safety checklist.
c. Isolation guide list.
d. Active suction.
e. Validated emergency action plan, including any agreement with emergency medical
service (EMS) or Federal fire department for transportation and treatment.
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CHAPTER 5
DIVING WAIVER AND EXCEPTION TO POLICY SUBMISSION CRITERIA AND
PROCESS
1. Purpose. Provide criteria and process for ETPs and diving waivers. Guidance in this chapter
and figure 5-1 are provided for scenarios where it is essential that dives be conducted which
deviate from established policies or the TTPs established in reference (d) or the specific diving
apparatus operations and maintenance manual. MOAs or MOUs negotiated by OPNAV have the
effect of an ETP.
2. OPNAV Retained Waiver Authorities. OPNAV N97 retains approval authority for all diving
waivers and ETPs which might result in national-level or foreign national-level interest if a
failure or casualty were to occur, any planned exceptional exposure dives and any modifications
to Standard USN Diving Tables; allow 30 days from notification for reply.
3. Delegated Waiver Authorities. OPNAV N97 delegates ETP and diving waiver authority as
delineated in subparagraphs 3a through 3c and figure 5-1. No part of this waiver or ETP
authority delegation precludes OPNAV N97 from approving or denying any pending or
previously approved waiver or ETP, if deemed appropriate.
a. Flag Officer (FO) or General Officer (GO) Commander. The first FO or GO in the chain
of command serves as the approval authority for Navy dives conducted using non-certified or
non-ANU life support equipment. A NAVSEA 00C risk assessment must be conducted and
included with all waiver requests; see figure 5-1. OPNAV N97 must be informed by letter (copy
to).
b. O6 Commander. The first O6 Commander in the chain of command serves as the
approval authority for mission essential Navy dives which deviate from established procedures
or doctrine, use of non-Navy certified RCCs for Level 1 and 2 RCC support, interoperability
dives, exceptions to personnel qualifications (except physical standards) and attending non
mission essential training or civilian dive schools which deviate from established curricula. A
NAVSEA 00C risk assessment must be conducted and included with all initial waiver requests as
specified in figure 5-1. The first FO or GO and OPNAV N97 must be informed by letter (copy
to).
c. O5 Commander. O5 COs may serve as the approval authority for deviation from
established procedures during contingencies, use commercial procured air and/or non ANU
cylinders that meets the requirements outlined in reference (d), mission essential dives that
exceed diving system normal working limits (including the conduct of decompression dives for
systems which normally do not exceed no-decompression limits) and authorize the use of non-
USN certified recompression chambers for level III chamber support (utilizing NAVSEA's
approved checklist). See figure 5-1 for additional details. The first O6 commander in command
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in the chain of command must be informed as soon as possible. The first FO or GO and OPNAV
N97 must be informed by letter (copy to).
d. Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEASYSCOM).
(1) The SUPSALV shall provide diving waiver or ETP consultation, advice or risk
assessments at the request of any FO, O6 Commander or CO.
(a) The Requestor shall fund all travel required for assistance.
(b) Depending on the complexity of the waiver/ETP, travel required and other
ongoing work within the office of the SUPSALV, this assistance could take from 30-180 days.
Requestors should consider their timeline and discuss the timeline early in this process.
(c) The information described in paragraph 4.b(1)-(7) of this chapter should be
provided to start this assistance process.
e. Commanding Officer, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CO,
CENEODDIVE).
(1) Serves as the approval authority for:
(a) CENEODDIVE associated training dives which deviate from established training
curricula.
(b) Familiarization dives conducted at a CENEODDIVE associated diving training
facility.
(2) The first FO or GO and OPNAV N97 must be informed by letter (copy to) for all
waivers that CO, CENEODDIVE approves.
4. Dive Waiver Request Process. Waiver requests must be submitted to the cognizant authority
as delineated in subparagraphs 4a through 4c and figure 5-1.
a. Waiver or ETP requests to OPNAV N97 must be endorsed by the first FO or GO in the
requestor’s chain of command and submitted with NAVSEA 00C assessment.
b. Waiver requests must substantiate the urgent or unusual circumstances and operational
considerations justifying their approval and must include adequate detail to permit a meaningful
technical review. The submitting command should plan for 30 days for each assessment or
review of waiver/ETP. Minimum required information includes:
(1) Description of the operational scenario.
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(2) List of systems/equipment and description of material condition.
(3) A detailed description of the specific departure from policy or specification requested
to be waived.
(4) Potential impact on personnel safety.
(5) Required duration of the waiver.
(6) An ORM assessment sheet showing initial RAC, risk mitigation strategies and
resulting final or improved RACs as a result of the mitigation strategy.
(7) The requesting command’s POC information (e-mail and phone).
c. Records must be retained by the originating command for the period of the waiver plus
two years.
5. Amplifying Information. Subparagraph 5 provides additional guidance on waivers and
ETPs.
a. Waivers of the physical standards for disqualifying physical conditions. Waivers of the
physical standards should be submitted per reference (h).
b. Manned biomedical and human performance research dives performed under NEDU or
NSMRL research protocols that require deviation from reference (d), provided prior
authorization is obtained from NAVSEA 00C. Such dives must be performed per the human
research requirements relevant to human studies protocols at the time of the intended study.
c. Familiarization dives with unqualified personnel.
(1) Diving is hazardous duty and must not normally be conducted by unqualified
personnel.
(2) If a familiarization dive is to be conducted with unqualified personnel, the conditions
in subparagraphs 5c(2)(a) through 5c(2)(h) must be met.
(a) An O6 or above Commander approves and assumes the risk for conducting the
familiarization dive. Formal correspondence is not required.
(b) Conducted by personnel who have been medically screened by a privileged UMO
or a certified Deep Sea Diving IDC.
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(c) Conducted in the most controlled environment available, with the most
controllable dive apparatus, and only after all divers have been briefed on and thoroughly
reviewed all applicable operating and EP.
(d) Accompanied by a qualified diver.
(e) Within no decompression limits.
(f) Must never be a planned decompression or an exceptional exposure dive.
(g) Conducted in the diving apparatus that provides the most control in the event of
an emergency.
(h) Conducted only after positive communications through an umbilical (if surface
supplied mode) or through water communications (if SCUBA mode), if available, have been
achieved and the dive is supported with on-site, qualified dive supervisors and with identified
medical personnel supported by a recompression facility such that they can implement
emergency actions in the event of a diving casualty.
d. Interoperability dives with Foreign Countries, US DoD and Other US Government
Agencies, using USN Certified Systems or ANU equipment, requires the approval of the first
operational O6 Commander. The first GO or FO, NAVSEA 00C and OPNAV N97 should be
notified (copy to). Chapter 8 provides additional information and guidance on diving
interoperability.
e. Non-dive qualified personnel supporting submarine rescue. Due to the number of
personnel required for the operation of the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System
(SRDRS), the CO, Undersea Rescue Command is authorized to use non-dive qualified personnel
who have been properly trained on the particular watch station to operate the SRDRS. The
respective submarine TYCOM and the unit CO are responsible for ensuring personnel meet
appropriate medical screening and have the appropriate cross training for the specific SRDRS
watch stations. These watch stations must not include diving operations (with the exception of
hyperbaric chambers).
f. USN divers are permitted to utilize commercial air sources to meet operational necessity
without a waiver if the conditions listed in subparagraphs 5f(1) through 5f(4) are met.
(1) NAVSEA 00C must develop and publish an inspection procedure and check sheet for
use in evaluating commercial divers' air sources. With a completed check sheet, a CO may
approve, in writing, the use of commercial divers’ air sources.
(2) The dive supervisor must cite a current certification indicating that the facility meets
air quality testing specifications, as provided by NAVSEA 00C.
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(3) Dive supervisors are able to inspect all commercially obtained SCUBA cylinders for
current hydrostatic test date, internal visual inspection within the past year and ensure the
cylinders meet Department of Transportation (DoT) requirements (other recognized standards
that meet DoT requirements are also approved).
(4) Dive supervisors are able to inspect commercial air compressor(s), air transfer, air
filtering, air storage and air intake systems per a NAVSEA 00C produced inspection guideline.
g. USN divers are permitted to utilize non-Navy, non-certified RCC for Level III RCC
Support per reference (d).
h. NAVSEA 00C must develop checklists to assist in the standard exceptions allowed by
subparagraphs 5h (1) through 5h (3).
(1) Inspection criteria for commercially obtained SCUBA cylinders for current
hydrostatic test date, internal visual inspection within the past year and ensure the cylinders meet
DoT standards (or equivalent recognized standard).
(2) Inspection criteria for commercial air compressor(s), air transfer, air filtering and
moisture separation systems, air storage and air intake systems per a NAVSEA 00C produced
inspection guideline.
(3) Inspection requirements for use of non-certified chambers for Level III RCC Support
per reference (d).
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STANDARD DIVING WAIVERS AND EXCEPTION TO POLICY APPROVAL
AUTHORITY
OPNAV N97
International and/or National Level Interest.
Planned use of Exceptional Exposure Dive Table. Note 1
Any modification to Standard navy Dive Tables.
Flag Officer / General Officer
Utilization of Non-certified or Non-ANU Diving life Support System/Equipment. Examples
include use of other US Government Agency, Civilian and Foreign Dive Equipment. Note 1
O6 Commander
Mission essential dives that deviate from established procedures or doctrine.
Interoperability dives with Foreign Countries, Other US Services, US Commercial and Other
US Government Agencies using US Navy Certified System or ANU Equipment. See Chapter 8
for additional information on interoperability. Note 3
Use of non-Navy certified RCC for Level 1 & 2 RCC support. Note 1
Exceptions to personal qualification standards (except medical standards). Examples include
local conversion training and Familiarization dives.
USN Divers attending civilian or Other US Government Agency dive schools (swift water,
U/W welding), utilizing Certified or ANU diving equipment, which deviates from established
curricula. After Actions reports for training course must be provided to NAVSEA 00C and
CENEODDIVE. Note 1
O5 Commander
Use of non-Navy Certified RCC for Level 3 RCC support, using current NAVSEA approved
checklist.
Use of commercially procured air and/or non-ANU cylinders that meet the requirements
outlines in reference (d).
Mission essential dives that exceed normal working limits.
Deviation from established procedures during contingencies. Note 2
Notes:
1 – Requires NAVSEA 00C Risk Assessment
2 – Requires O6 notification as soon as possible
3 – Requires notification to first Flag / General officer, NAVSEA 00C and OPNAV N97
Figure 5-1
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CHAPTER 6
DIVE MISHAP AND NEAR MISHAP REPORTING
1. Non-attributional. The mishap and near mishap reporting program must be as transparent
and non-attributional as is appropriate and as Service or Departmental policy or law allow.
2. Other Reporting Requirements. The guidance of this chapter does not supersede other
reporting requirements (e.g., OPREP messages, etc.) required by other instructions or guidance.
3. Web-enabled Safety System (WESS). Mishaps, near mishaps and hazards must be reported
through WESS or naval message per reference (e). CNO WASHINGTON DC//N973//,
COMNAVSEASYSCOM WASHINGTON DC//00C//, appropriate TYCOM and
NAVXDIVINGU PANAMA CITY FL will be an information addressee on all message reports.
4. Guidance for Reporting. Use this guidance, including references (e) and (ad) for dive mishap
reporting on evolutions involving preparation for, conduct of and conclusion of diving
operations, to include impact on divers, dive station watch standers and support personnel. Any
dive or support to diving mission which results in a class A, B, C or D mishap will be reported.
Subparagraphs 4a through 4e provide some examples of reportable mishaps. This is not an all-
inclusive list.
a. Restricted work.
b. Limited duty.
c. Light duty.
d. Recompression treatment.
e. Loss of consciousness.
5. Causes of Restricted Work, Limited Duty and Light Duty. Causes of restricted work, limited
duty and light duty include, but are not limited to, thermal exposure, dehydration, altitude
sickness, excessive fatigue, breath hold diving and any dive resulting in injury or death. Further,
any dive operation that results in placing military or civilian personnel in restricted work, limited
duty, non-dive duty (not PQ) or light duty status, regardless of the amount of time lost, with the
exception of non-repetitive diving restrictions, must be reported as a dive mishap.
6. Hazard Report (HAZREP). Units must investigate and submit a HAZREP on hazards and
near mishaps that do not warrant submission of a safety mishap report per reference (e). Self-
evaluation and self-reporting of near mishaps is a key measure of professionalism and
demonstrates concern for the greater diving community. To the greatest extent possible, the
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reporting of safety issues or concerns must be handled so that persons reporting or individuals
involved in the reported event are not subject to punishment or censure.
7. Collection of Data. Submission of HAZREPs ensures safety information is collected and
disseminated throughout the fleet with the goal of preventing mishaps. Collection of hazard and
near mishap data over time allows for trend analysis and the resourcing of fleet wide solutions to
enable safe and effective diving in hazardous environments.
8. Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigations.
a. The JAGMAN provides instructions for investigation and reporting procedures required
in instances when the mishap may have occurred as a result of procedural or personnel
negligence. Per reference (e) and this instruction, a JAGMAN investigation must remain
separate from any naval safety investigation, while the SIB must be granted access to all
evidence collected by the JAGMAN investigation.
b. The senior SIB member’s and assigned members’ authorities must remain extant and free
from command influence. Further, the SIB must be fully supported in its investigation and
permitted to operate with full autonomy with regards to the investigation from the oversight of
operational commanders once appointed by competent appointing authority.
9. Diving Equipment Associated with Mishap or Near-Mishap.
a. Diving equipment that may have contributed to a mishap requires immediate segregation
and must be secured and untampered. For any mishap or near mishap contact NAVSEA 00C to
determine if the equipment should be shipped by fastest traceable means to NEDU for analysis.
Note: Not all mishaps require equipment sent to NEDU.
b. The equipment will not be dismantled, cleaned or altered in any way prior to contacting
NAVSEA 00C. If shipment of equipment is necessary, all equipment will be prepared IAW the
Memorandum for the Record on the NAVSEA 00C secure web site.
c. NEDU must, without reasonable delay, provide a “legal working document” to the
investigating body regarding engineering viability for associated diving equipment.
d. Through that analysis, NEDU must make a statement of correct operability of that
equipment producing an engineering based “best hypothesis” declaration, or summary, as to
whether the equipment had or had not likely operated correctly and a “best hypothesis” as to
possible cause(s); caveats may be applied, as appropriate.
10. Examples of Hazards and Near Mishaps. Examples (not all inclusive) of hazards and near
mishaps which must be reported per this chapter are listed in subparagraphs 10a through 10d.
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a. Examples include, but are not limited to:
(1) Unplanned shifting to secondary air.
(2) Aborted dive due to unexpected issue or event.
(3) Fouling.
(4) Lost diver.
b. Exceeding any prescribed limits regardless of the consequences. Examples include, but
are not limited to:
(1) Maximum depth.
(2) Bottom time.
(3) Omitted decompression.
(4) Oxygen exposures above allowed CNS or pulmonary oxygen limits. Abnormal to the
small variations seen during normal closed or semi-closed diving operations.
c. Any out-of-specification condition discovered after equipment and systems are prepared
for use. Examples include, but are not limited to:
(1) Carbon dioxide (CO2) canister installed or filled improperly.
(2) CO2 canister not installed.
(3) Exhaust valves installed improperly.
(4) System aligned improperly.
d. Any external systems, equipment and conditions that may adversely affect or impair
diver safety. Examples include, but are not limited to:
(1) Ships equipment operated or tags cleared without proper authorization before, during
or after divers enter the water.
(2) Unauthorized cranes operated overhead of divers.
(3) Small boat operations conducted over or in the vicinity of divers.
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(4) Unauthorized discharges while divers are in the water.
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CHAPTER 7
DIVING OPERATIONAL READINESS INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
1. Purpose. To provide senior Navy leadership with a comprehensive program that ensures a
viable and professional diving community throughout the Navy, all commands performing
diving operations will undergo a Diving Operational Readiness Inspection (DORI). The DORI
provides a critical verification of operational proficiency and compliance with technical
requirements, approved procedures and diving policy.
2. Requirements.
a. The DORI process is designed for commands with direct control of diving personnel.
Commands with diving capabilities assigned at sub-command levels (e.g., EOD Platoons,
MDSU Companies, Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Dive Detachments (CDDs), etc.)
must be inspected via a robust and diverse inspection process to ensure the entire dive capability
is reviewed and that oversight of sub-command task organizations capabilities are compliant
with policy. All sub-command level units operating independently without direct command
level oversight must receive a complete DORI inspection prior to certification for such
operations.
b. At the discretion of the TYCOM or other Commander listed below, any individual
program (e.g., preventative maintenance system (PMS), quality assurance, etc.) that has recently
completed a satisfactory TYCOM or ISIC led inspection may be exempted from the DORI or
undergo a reduced inspection, as desired. The DORI should focus on the execution of diving
operations vice redundant inspections of areas that have recently received a satisfactory
inspection.
c. TYCOMs, ISICs, SYSCOMs and others must receive a quality assurance review every 3
years to ensure diving commands are being properly inspected. NAVSEA 00C will conduct
DORI Quality Assurance Safety Program (QASP) reviews on the commands or their
subordinates who are authorized to conduct DORIs, listed in subparagraphs 2.c.(1) through
2.c.(10).
(1) Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM)
(2) Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR)
(3) Commander, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command
(COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM) Pacific Fleet
(4) Commander, Submarine Forces, US Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC)
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(5) NETC
(6) COMNAVFACENGCOM
(7) BUMED
(8) Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC)
(9) COMPACFLT (as the ISIC for Commander, Naval Forces Japan; Commander, Naval
Forces Marianas; Naval Ship Repair Facility Yokosuka Japan; and Commander, Naval Air
Forces Pacific)
(10) Naval Information Warfare Systems Command
d. The QASP team will be determined by the SupDive based on the size and complexity of
the command. The QASP team will conduct a quality assurance review of the command’s
performance in the conduct of their DORI. It will consist primarily of an administrative review
of the required elements as listed herein. The team may also review any outside relevant
material and information, including but not limited to, diving or medical support agreements
(MOA, MOU, ISA, etc.), TYCOM/ISIC inspections ISO Diving (Medical Dept., ESI, 3M, etc.),
Regional BENDS requirements/instructions, command or departmental Standard Operating
Procedures, Tailored DWS/PQS, temporary or permanent waivers, IDC and DMT certification
and supervision documentation, method used and results of LOK exams and monitored evolution
completed drill packages.
e. The QASP Team will ensure that the commands listed in subparagraphs 2.c.(1) through
2.c.(10), or their subordinates who are authorized to perform DORIs, establish and issue
guidance, in writing, regarding the conduct of DORIs under their cognizance. At a minimum,
the instruction or guidance document must specify subordinate commands authorized to conduct
DORIs, identify units that are authorized to conduct diving operations, establish minimum
inspection team requirements, provide detailed DORI check lists to be used during the conduct
of the inspections, direct how subordinate commands will track, correct, respond and close out
findings of a DORI and maintain records for a minimum of the last two DORIs performed at
each diving command.
f. COMNAVSPECWARCOM receives operational guidance and assessments from
USSOCOM and is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
g. Requirements for the DORI must be established, in writing, by the cognizant
Commanders listed in subparagraphs 2.c.(1) through 2.c.(10). At a minimum, the instruction
must specify subordinate commands authorized to conduct DORIs, identify units that are
authorized to conduct diving operations and provide detailed DORI checklists to be used during
the conduct of inspections.
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h. If the TYCOM or ISIC does not have the expertise to conduct a DORI, it must establish a
MOA with an outside activity that can accomplish this review.
i. The DORI must be conducted on a revolving basis at specified intervals based on
completion of required DORI/DSA events. Normal DORI periodicity is 36 months (Not to
exceed 42 months) provided a DSA has been accomplished within prescribed limits. If a DSA
has not been accomplished within prescribed limits, the DORI interval must not exceed 21
months.
j. At a minimum, all DORIs must cover the areas listed in subparagraphs 2.k.(1) through
2.k.(5).
k. The DORI team, as a minimum, shall normally consist of: 1) a Diving Officer (Diving
CWO, designator 7201) or a diving qualified officer (designator 1140, 1440, 5100, 6480 or 6530
with AQD KL0) filling an active diving billet and current in their diving qualifications; 2) a
MDV (NEC MMDV or B18A); and 3) a UMO(NOBC 0107, sub-specialty code 16U0 or 16U1).
In the event an UMO is unavailable, the medical program inspection can be performed by an E-7
or above Deep-Sea Diving IDC (NEC L28A). Additional inspectors (specific subject matter
experts) should be assigned to assist the DORI team when the size or complexity of the
command dive locker mission requires it. It is necessary that only personnel that have
demonstrated a high level of understanding of diving-related program requirements, for the
specific mission and equipment of the unit undergoing inspection, be assigned duty as DORI
team members in order to provide detailed, relevant and timely findings to the inspected
command.
Note: Due to the limited mission scope, manning and equipment of Submarine and other
unique command dive lockers outfitted with an open-circuit, air SCUBA-only capability, a single
Diving Officer (preferably a Diving CWO, designator 7201 or EOD LDO, designator 6480) or a
single MDV (preferably with NEC MMDV), may perform the non-medical portion of the DORI
with permission from the ISIC or TYCOM.
(1) Administration. All diving related training and administrative programs, including
diving waivers, must be inspected for completeness and accuracy per ISIC, TYCOM and
OPNAV instructions. Commands must have also passed the diving relevant portions of the most
current ISIC and TYCOM required maintenance and material management, supply inspection
and COMNAVSEASYSCOM certification audit. The material condition of all assigned diving
and ancillary support equipment must be inspected for operational readiness, maintenance,
preservation and cleanliness. Additionally, perform an audit of the reentry control program
associated with diving and diving support systems since the last certification audit. Activities
equipped with divers’ life support systems must have their certifications reviewed during the
DORI.
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(2) Training. To determine the viability of the command’s training program, the
command diver training program, including the long-range and short-range training plan
(including Navy mission essential task list naval task area documentation), must be reviewed
through the Fleet Training Management and Planning System (FLTMPS) along with the PQS
program and ORM training.
(3) Review of Medical Support to Diving Personnel. A comprehensive audit of the
medical support available and provided to the diving command must be conducted and it should
be performed by a diving-medicine trained inspector (IDC or UMO) whenever possible. This
audit should include an inventory of required and optional medical equipment and associated
PMS, evaluation of the effectiveness of medical administration, confirmation of the competency
of supporting medical providers (DMTs, Deep Sea Diving IDCs and UMOs), review of the
currency and quality of Diving Medical Examinations and any associated waivers of the physical
standards and an assessment of the quality of the documentation of the health care provided to
divers at the command.
(4) Diving Operations LOK. All personnel, with the exception of the CO, assigned to
supervise or perform diving operations or diving maintenance must be evaluated on their diving
LOK. The method used and results of the LOK assessments must be included in the DORI
report. LOK is assessed using one or more of the methods listed in subparagraphs 2k(4)(a)
through 2k(4)(c).
(a) Monitored Evolutions. Evolutions such as dive briefs, mission briefs, ORM
briefs, emergency drills, pre- and post-dive maintenance and diving evolutions provide excellent
opportunity to assess LOK.
(b) LOK Interview. LOK interviews provide an opportunity to assess dive team
members during a single interviewee period or small group environment. These interviews allow
an inspection team using a board of no less than two interviewers to thoroughly assess the LOK
of specific dive team members. Diving officers, MDV, dive supervisor and DMT must not be
interviewed in a group environment. DMTs must be interviewed by the senior ISIC DMT,
Hospital Corpsman (HM) or UMO. Due to the high demand and low density of senior DMTs
and UMOs, the DMTs can be interviewed “virtually” by the ISIC with a board member on-site,
in the room or interviewed at a time other than the actual DORI dates, not greater than plus or
minus 30 days.
(c) Written Examinations. Written examinations provide the DORI team a tool to
assess dive team members’ LOK as it directly applies to established diving and maintenance
policy, TTPs and other diving-related doctrine. Examinations must be relevant to the senior
watch station a diver is qualified to stand.
1. The inspecting command will develop and approve all tests administered.
Test integrity must be safeguarded by limiting access to essential personnel only, must only be
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administered by the DORI team and questions used on any examination must be changed enough
to preclude stereotyping or compromise. Advance copies of examinations must not be sent to the
Diving unit being assessed.
2. Examinations should consist of multiple questioning techniques such as
multiple-choice, true or false, matching, fill in the blank or essay.
3. The minimum passing grade on written examinations must be determined by
the ISIC and should not be below 70 percent. Examinations should be comprehensive and
written to support the command mission set and diving capabilities.
4. Commands must remediate and reexamine individuals who fail written
examinations prior to returning them to diving duty at the examined watch station. The
examination requirements of subparagraphs 2k(4)(c)1 through 2k(4)(c)3 are germane to that
reexamination.
(5) Diving Operations. Operational dives on each type of diving system must be
observed and evaluated. The DORI team must ensure emergency drills are demonstrated and
documented during the inspection. Diving performance includes all aspects of the evolution
from pre to post mission operations. The guidance provided in subparagraphs 2k(5)(a) through
2k(5)(c) must be adhered to.
(a) The DORI team must select the diving supervisors to be evaluated during each
dive evolution. The diving unit being inspected will provide the DORI team a list of all diving
supervisors currently qualified to perform diving operations at the diving unit. The DORI team
will select diving supervisors to be evaluated from the list provided. Aggressive and effective
application of mission analysis, mission planning and ORM must be integral to the evaluation of
any diving supervisor.
(b) The DORI team must select the diving emergency drills to be demonstrated and
evaluated during the DORI. The diving unit being inspected will provide the DORI team pre-
approved drill scenarios to be used to assess the diving team. The DORI team may specify, via
the DORI notification letter, drill scenarios to be preapproved and available for use during the
inspection. The DORI team will select the emergency drill, from the preapproved scenarios, to
be conducted by each diving supervisor being assessed.
(c) Many evolutions conducted by divers, present hazards that require increased dive
team knowledge, more detailed ORM planning and increased diving supervisor and command
engagement. The DORI team may request, via DORI notification letter, specific evolutions to be
conducted during the DORI. Requested evolutions must be a primary capability of the unit being
inspected. Examples of evolutions to be requested are: underwater cutting and welding
operations, hydraulic tool operations, underwater rigging, lift bag operations and hull
inspections. The diving unit being inspected must make every effort to perform all evolutions
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requested by the DORI. In the event the diving unit is unable to perform evolutions requested by
the DORI team, they must send a written notification to the inspecting command indicating
which requested evolutions cannot be performed along with unit recommended alternate
evolutions to be evaluated.
3. Goals. A properly run DORI and DORI quality assurance review will yield a diving
community with the traits listed in subparagraphs 3a through 3c.
a. A comprehensive dive operational readiness assessment of all Navy diving teams.
b. A database of best practices, material deficiencies, administrative processes and medical
reviews for Navy diving.
c. A solid, well performing and properly resourced diving community.
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CHAPTER 8
DIVER QUALIFICATION, TRAINING, AND DESIGNATION
1. Purpose. To provide additional guidance for diver qualifications, requalification,
proficiency, diver continuing training, command designation letters, local conversion training,
diving interoperability (allowing USN divers to work with DoD interservice, foreign military,
U.S. Government and U.S. commercial divers) and training of civilians in NETC courses of
instruction.
2. Qualification, Requalification and Proficiency.
a. Qualifications for Divers, Dive Supervisors, MDV, etc must be conducted as described in
subparagraphs 2a(1) through 2a(3).
(1) All divers must be qualified for each watch station at each command using the PQS
of reference (y).
(2) Dive Supervisors are Navy Qualified Divers who have been formally trained or are
qualified per PQS of reference (y) and on the job training to oversee Navy diving operations for
a specific command and for a specific diving apparatus.
(3) The Command Diving Officer is a qualified diver (normally an officer), designated
by the CO or OIC, who has demonstrated the operational knowledge, experience and
qualifications to provide effective management and oversight of a command’s diving program.
In cases where the command does not have a dive qualified officer, the command should assign a
chief petty officer diver or senior petty officer diver. This should usually be the most senior and
experienced diver at the command. The diving officer should communicate with the ISIC,
TYCOM or other more senior command diving officers frequently to ensure proper management
and oversight of the diving program. In these cases, the ISIC must be advised and should ensure
this timely and effective communication exists.
b. Qualified Watch List (QWL). Commands shall maintain a list of personnel currently
qualified to perform diving operations and operate diving systems. This list must be updated
regularly to accurately reflect qualification status and must be readily available to all diving
supervisory personnel.
c. Proficiency of Divers and Dive Supervisors. TYCOMs must provide clear, measurable
and repeatable standards and periodicity to ensure currency and competency requirements for
Navy Qualified Divers who are assigned to billets requiring mission specific application of
diving systems. This proficiency must also include diving officer, MDV and dive supervisor
watch standing proficiency.
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(1) Typically, all divers required to meet proficiency standards described in paragraph 2
should meet the requirements of reference (i). Additionally, dive systems used should normally
cover the spectrum of systems assigned to the command and dives should be conducted in the
environment reasonably representative of the operational environment expected. When possible,
and where relevant to the normal mission of the command, dives should be conducted at depths
of 55 through 65 percent of normal working depth for the dive system used (i.e., this would not
apply to ship’s husbandry or ship’s repair commands which normally work at depths of less than
60 feet). Dives should typically be conducted in an open water environment. Training
commands, NEDU and NSMRL must conduct open water dives whenever possible, unless the
CO or OIC determines the predominance of diver proficiency factors are demonstrated in a non-
open water environment (e.g., high risk training, ocean system simulator, etc.).
(2) This proficiency requirement is applicable to divers assigned to organizations that
routinely conduct diving operations, generate operational units within an OFRP or Inter-
deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) or support a SYSCOM production model (e.g., shipyard,
intermediate maintenance activity, etc.).
(3) In order to ensure the best utility of the proficiency concept, supervisory proficiency
watches and observed simulated casualty drills should normally be staggered throughout the 6-
month proficiency period, and would typically mirror the model described in subparagraph 2c(1).
d. Requalification. Requalification must be conducted per reference (i).
e. Major Changes to Procedures or Equipment. The CENEODDIVE and NAVSEA 00C
must provide a coordinated change recommendation to OPNAV N97 prior to issue of
qualification or system conversion guidance.
3. Designation Letters.
a. Dive supervisors, MDV, Navy Diving CWOs and Diving Officers, as all are supervisors,
must be designated in writing by the CO or OIC (this will not be delegated).
b. Designation letters should delineate the CO’s or OIC’s expectations for qualifications,
authorities, responsibilities, systems qualified (e.g., surface supplied air diving, surface supplied
mixed gas diving, SCUBA, recompression chamber, etc.) and training requirements as directed
by the TYCOM or ISIC.
c. MDVs are the Navy’s senior enlisted personnel who have completed formal NDSTC
training curricula and have been awarded a NEC 5341/MMDV or 5933/B18A (for UCT/CDD).
The CO or OIC must define, in writing, the specific qualifications, limitations, authorities and
responsibilities of each MDV under their command. MDVs must maintain qualifications and
proficiency requirements, undergo refresher training and constantly refine their diving
knowledge, consistent with the provisions of this instruction. MDVs must:
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(1) Provide technical advice for the dive supervisors, dive officers and the chain of
command.
(2) Establish a diver training program and schedule frequent training dives to ensure that
assigned divers maintain full qualification, maintain system certification and accountability, are
competent in using and effectively apply formal ORM principles and are prepared for and pass
diving inspections and DSAs. Also, they must ensure effective oversight of preventive and
corrective maintenance on diving equipment, support systems, salvage machinery, handling
systems and submarine rescue equipment.
(3) Review the deliberate risk assessment and any changes to the risk assessment for
accuracy and safety considerations.
d. Navy diving CWOs (designator 7201) hold a position of special trust and confidence
within the diving community focused on project oversight, technical management and
compliance with established Navy diving policy. The CO or OIC must define, in writing, the
specific qualifications, limitations, authorities and responsibilities of each diving CWO under
their command. CWOs must maintain qualifications and proficiency requirements, undergo
refresher training and constantly refine their diving knowledge, consistent with the provisions of
this instruction.
e. The Navy’s readiness generation process, normally established via the OFRP, IDTC or
long range training program, is fundamental to developing safe and competent supervisors at all
levels of responsibility and command. To that end, it is expected that a diving OIC’s, MDV’s or
dive supervisor’s designation letter would typically be more restrictive at the beginning of an
OFRP basic phase, as opposed to upon successful completion of a final exercise problem, the
integrated and advanced phase and deployment. No NEC or previous qualification must relieve
a CO or commander of assuring all divers or senior supervisors have passed through appropriate
readiness attainment gates per the OFRP, long range training program (LRTP) or other readiness
attainment model. This requirement remains applicable for those organizations that do not
specifically use the OFRP.
f. In order to minimize administrative burden, standardized letters may be used for this
purpose, as determined by the TYCOM or ISIC.
4. Continuing Training. All divers and dive supervisors, at all levels of supervisory
responsibility, must participate in a continuing training program as specified by the TYCOM and
ISIC. The goal is to maintain adequate LOK to safely perform their duties and responsibilities.
This training should incorporate incident reports and lessons learned from recent diving mishaps
or lessons learned published by the TYCOM and ISIC to prevent recurrence.
5. Local Conversion Training.
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a. This provision is used to allow experts in repair or operations to participate in a dive,
with the approval of the first O6 Commander in the chain of command, without going through
unnecessary training and qualifications.
b. Graduates of formal military dive schools that have met the requirements of a U.S.
military SCUBA diver or greater may be locally trained to conduct surface supplied diving
operations with the approval of the first O6 as delineated in subparagraph 5c. This policy is
intended to provide commanders the flexibility to utilize trained U.S. military divers in
previously unfamiliar diving apparatus for specific critical mission requirements. Local
qualification must be rescinded upon completion of the requirement for which it was initiated.
c. The conditions in subparagraphs 5c(1) through 5c(9) must be met in order to utilize this
provision.
(1) Only utilized for time-critical, specific missions using surface supplied diving
equipment for a limited timeframe.
(2) Training must be executed under the oversight of a 9502 qualified MDV or Diving
Officer while utilizing the approved NDSTC training modules specific to that diving system.
(3) Diver must be current in diving qualifications.
(4) A second diver, fully qualified and current in the system being trained, will be
utilized for all training evolutions. The second diver must not be the standby diver. The diver
can conduct single diver operations per reference (c), once qualified, only if the mission
requirement will not permit two divers due to safety or unique operational concerns (e.g., EOD
explosive safety or special missions, etc.).
(5) The diver must successfully demonstrate all EP during an observed dive in all desired
surface supplied dive system configurations in the presence of a qualified diver.
(6) Diver must be training in the minimum requirements for pre and post mission and pre
and post dive maintenance associated with the system configurations trained.
(7) Qualification is rescinded upon completion of the mission requirement for which it
was initiated and only remains in effect during temporary additional duty with the written
notification and concurrence of the approving O6.
(8) Local qualification training records must be maintained for the duration of the
individual’s time at the command, plus two years.
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(9) Inform TYCOM and CENEODDIVE, by letter, when local training provisions are
utilized. CENEODDIVE must retain the local training letter data in the individual diver’s
permanent diver training file.
6. Diving Interoperability. This paragraph provides policy guidance for commanders having
authorities per chapter 5 of this instruction to conduct operations requiring diver interoperability.
a. Training Accepted
(1) DoD Inter-Service. Active duty and reserve military personnel and civilian
employees of the DoD who have successfully completed formal training and achieved at least
initial accession training in one or more qualified military diving system at a U.S. military diving
school and have maintained their qualifications must be considered a DoD diver for Service
common diving. Standardized Service common training is managed by the TTAB under the
JMDT&T Program Board.
(2) Foreign Military. A qualified foreign military diver is any foreign military diver
qualified and designated per their nation’s military requirements and standards or a foreign
civilian diver trained and certified on USN equipment. The Navy Diving Program should make
deliberate efforts to maximize the advantages available for training and equipment commonality
which meets the U.S. requirement via the STANAG and ABCANZ exchange processes (see
subparagraph 6b).
(3) U.S. Government. U.S. government employees assigned to diving duty as part of
their standard job assignment, qualified under a nationally recognized training program, and who
have maintained qualifications per that program’s requirements. Former DoD divers meet the
initial training requirements provided they are current under a nationally recognized program
regardless of that program’s initial training requirement.
(4) U.S. Commercial. Divers who have completed a formal course of study and are
qualified and remain qualified under reference (d). U.S. contractors who are former DoD divers
meet the initial training requirements provided they are current under a nationally recognized
program regardless of that program’s initial training requirement.
b. Equipment Accepted
(1) U.S. ANU and Certified Systems. Unless provided a diving waiver or ETP, all USN
divers must use ANU equipment and certified systems for all joint diving.
(2) Other Authorized Equipment. No diver must be allowed to use equipment or dive a
technique (i.e., mixed gas diving, nitrox, etc.) that he or she is not qualified in through their
respective Service or organization. The guidance in chapter 5 applies in regards to
familiarization dives.
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c. Policy. Navy Qualified Divers may dive with equivalently qualified divers and
equipment as described in subparagraphs 6a and 6b. This does not convey a blanket approval to
forego adherence to standards as prescribed by this instruction and its references. The intention
is to allow the operational commander to make case by case decisions in an informed matter to
allow flexibility in operations. There is a balance that must be struck between safety and
liability. Safety is a function of ORM while liability is a function of law. The first FO or GO,
NAVSEA 00C and OPNAV N97 must be informed prior to operations by letter (copy to) of the
organizations involved, purpose and duration of the integrated operation.
(1) Prior to the commencement of diving operations, the CO must confirm that:
(a) The first O6 operational commander has granted permission to conduct diving
operation with “equivalently qualified” divers.
(b) The participating divers are medically qualified to dive by their personal
physician or government organization, have met the equivalency requirements and have
completed the required familiarization training per this chapter. Navy Qualified Diver diving
with any U.S. civilian diver is restricted to the equipment and restrictions of reference (x).
(c) The equipment adequacy, equivalency, maintenance and cleanliness records have
been reviewed and accepted for use.
(d) The air, oxygen and CO2 scrubber material has been reviewed and accepted for
use.
(2) Classroom training and briefing should be conducted prior to joint diving and diving
with U.S. ANU equivalent equipment covering a minimum of: equipment parameters and safety
limitations or restrictions, pre-dive setup, dressing procedures, in water procedures, specific
TTPs relating to the dive objective, descent and ascent rate restrictions, underwater
communication techniques, demonstrate EPs, extract method and location, emergency checklists,
treatment location and post dive procedures.
(3) Prior to conducting open water dives, conduct familiarization dives in a controlled
environment (i.e., a pool or pier side).
(4) ORM and the dive brief should follow the guidance in chapter 5 of reference (d).
(5) For dives conducted by the Navy, the dive supervisor and standby diver must be
qualified Navy divers. Outside divers may man other dive station positions provided there is a
qualified Navy Diver backup.
(6) For dives conducted by outside divers with Navy participants, the qualifications and
proficiency of the diving supervisor should be assessed.
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(7) Navy Qualified Divers permanently assigned to the armed forces of allied nations
under the PEP comply with the operational standards of that allied force are permitted to dive
and use equipment authorized per the approval process and policies of the national military or
naval force to which they are assigned and are exempt from the provisions of this instruction.
7. Training of Civilians in NETC Diving Courses of Instruction.
a. Individual Military Training Programs. Per reference (z), individual military training
programs funded by the DoD must be available to active and reserve component personnel,
civilian employees and, when authorized, contractors, allies and other U.S. government or non-
government agency personnel.
(1) There are three categories of civilian personnel who will be considered for attendance
in NETC diving courses of instruction: DoD and DON civilians; Federal, State and local civilian
law enforcement personnel; and other U.S. government or non-government agency personnel.
(2) Per reference (aa), training of Federal, State and local civilian law enforcement
officials must be limited to situations when the use of non-DoD personnel would be unfeasible or
impractical from a cost or time perspective and would not otherwise compromise military
preparedness of the United States.
(3) Requests for the use of government property or facilities by municipalities or other
organizations outside the DoD often result, at least in part, from the prohibitive costs associated
with obtaining similar property or facilities from commercial sources. The Navy may not
compete with commercial enterprises by providing training to non-DoD civilians when
reasonably similar training is available within the private sector.
(4) Navy employed civilian divers must be trained at a NETC diving course of
instruction.
(5) Quotas for training of non-DoD and non-DON civilian government personnel will be
considered, pending availability of seats after training requests for military, DON and DoD
civilians are satisfied. Governmental agencies outside DoD must determine that satisfactory
diver training is not available commercially and document such in any request for quotas in a
NETC diving course of instruction.
(6) DoD activities take precedence for quotas.
(7) NETC diving courses of instruction will not normally be altered to provide additional
or specialized training.
(8) Attendance by civilian personnel must be incidental to the necessary and authorized
training of military personnel. Training of civilians is not to interfere with the training of
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military personnel or the primary mission of the course concerned.
b. Approval Authority. Requests by DoD or DON civilians; Federal, State and local
civilian law enforcement personnel; and other U.S. government or non-government agency
personnel to attend a NETC diving course of instruction must be forwarded to the appropriate
approval authority.
(1) DoD or DON Civilians. DoD or DON civilians must be assigned to a position that
requires diving as a primary duty as defined by the employee’s position description.
CENEODDIVE, as the quota control, must manage all DoD or DON civilian requests for quotas
in NETC diving courses of instruction.
(2) Federal, State and Local Civilian Law Enforcement Personnel. Per reference (aa),
SECNAV may, in coordination with the Assistant SecDef (Homeland Defense and Global
Security), approve the request for training.
(3) Other U.S. Government or Non-Government Agency Personnel. SECNAV is the
approval authority for requests by other U.S. government or non-government agency personnel
for attendance in a NETC diving course of instruction, ref (ag). Submit request to: NETC, 250
Dallas St., Pensacola, FL 32508-5220; Attention: Code N71, NETC Training Program
Coordinator.
c. Quota Control. CENEODDIVE is the quota control authority for NETC diving courses
of instruction conducted at NDSTC. Non-DON and non-DoD civilian personnel may be
considered for enrollment only after eligible military personnel have been enrolled, no sooner
than 30 days prior to the class convening. Non-DON and non-DoD civilians may only occupy
student spaces that would otherwise remain vacant.
d. Diver Training Information. Information concerning diving and diver training may be
obtained from the Catalog of Navy Training Courses, Volume II.
e. Quota Requests. Submit quota requests per paragraph 7 and the Privacy Act of 1974.
Copies of all requests must be sent to: CENEODDIVE, 350 South Crag Road, Panama City, FL
32407-7016. The information in subparagraphs 7e(1) through 7(e)(9) is required.
(1) Full name.
(2) Residence address.
(3) Date and place of birth.
(4) Name and address of sponsoring organization.
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(5) Security clearance.
(6) Statement of training desired, including designation of course of instruction and time
frame.
(7) Statement concerning government or sponsoring agency need for such training. Non-
DoD agencies must include a statement regarding the non-availability of adequate diver training
from within the private sector.
(8) A report documenting successful completion of a hyperbaric pressure test and the
physical screening test per references (d) and (i).
(9) A report of physical examination conducted per reference (h).
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CHAPTER 9
EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE, ADVISORY TEAMS, PROGRAM BOARD AND
WORKING GROUP
1. DiveESC.
a. Purpose. To improve the effectiveness and economy of diving activities and to ensure
the Navy has the required capability to support peacetime, emergency and wartime diving
technology and training requirements. This body must consider issues across all TYCOMs
relevant to Navy diving policy, manpower, training, funding, operational readiness and future
diving capability.
b. Composition. The DiveESC is comprised of several FOs and GOs. The required voting
members for this committee are OPNAV N97 (who serves as the chair); OPNAV N95;
NAVSEA, Deputy Commander for Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations (SEA 04);
Director, U.S. Fleet Forces Maintenance (N43); Director, Pacific Fleet Maintenance (N43);
Commander COMNAVRMC Norfolk VA; Deputy Naval Special Warfare Command and
Commander, COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM. The DiveESC is advised by DepDive (who serves
as secretary); SUPSALV; SUPDIVE; Commander, CENEODDIVE; CO, NDSTC; and the chairs
of the SEAT and CWO-AT. All key stakeholders are encouraged to attend this committee;
additional important non-voting members are listed on figure 9-1. Non-voting stakeholders are
not required to convene a DiveESC, just voting members and advisors.
c. Reports.
(1) The annual reports in paragraphs 9c(1)(a) through 9c(1)(g) must be prepared for the
DiveESC.
(a) OPNAV report on the state of Navy diving, the NATO standardization and
agreements.
(b) CWO-AT report of the state of Navy diving CWO community.
(c) SEAT report of the state of the Navy Diving Senior Enlisted community.
(d) OPNAV and NAVSEASYSCOM Supervisor of Diving (NAVSEA 00C3B)
report on actions relevant to diving within the ABCANZ diving working group.
(e) Report on Navy SOF diving policy and integration.
(f) CENEODDIVE report on state of Navy Qualified Diver training.
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(g) Chair, TTAB and chair, MTAB report on tools and processes which foster
collaboration and a culture of learning within the Navy diving community.
(2) Bi-annually, relevant OPNAV requirements officers, OPNAV Director, Programming
(OPNAV N80) and NAVSEASYSCOM must provide a consolidated diving capability status and
roadmap review.
(3) Other reports on Navy diving and diving associated programs and capabilities, as
requested or proposed.
d. Output. Provide timely input to the Navy program objective memorandum process and
associated requirements generation processes to ensure the Navy maintains the required diving
capability and capacity for the projected security environment.
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Figure 9-1
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2. CWO-AT.
a. Purpose. The CWO-AT represents the Navy’s community of persistent diving program
and policy experts; the CWO-AT leverages that expertise through collaboration, discussion and
proposal of recommended solutions to issues that affect the broader Navy diving community and,
by extension, dive policies that may affect DoD divers. Focus areas include:
(1) Navy diving policy.
(2) Diving capability modernization.
(3) Navy wide dive training, funding and manpower status.
(4) Operational readiness.
b. Diving CWO-AT Composition. This portion will serve as the charter for a diving CWO-
AT. The CWO-AT must be a group composed of senior diving CWOs who are currently
assigned to diving duties at NAVSEASYSCOM (Chair); COMSUBLANT; COMSUBPAC;
NAVSPECWARCEN; Commander, EOD Group ONE and TWO (until such time that
COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM or the TYCOM establishes a billet); Commander, Navy Regional
Maintenance Center (COMNAVREGMAINTCEN) CWO representative (currently SWRMC);
CENEODDIVE, Specialized Research Diving Detachment; NAVSAFECEN; Chairperson,
SEAT, CWO-AT elected 7201 Community Manager/Detailing Assistant and all diving CWO5’s
(designator 7201). The CWO-AT must be chaired by the NAVSEA 00C diving CWO. While
the CWO-AT principally reports to the DiveESC, it can and must, on request, respond to any
TYCOM, SYSCOM or OPNAV N97 in a capacity to study, advise and report on any diving
issue relevant to its charter. Such reports must be included in the next subsequent report to the
DiveESC.
c. Chairperson Responsibilities. The CWO-AT chairperson must attend all CWO-AT
meetings, represent the CWO-AT at the DiveESC and the Salvage ESC. On a regular basis the
CWO-AT chairperson will query the CWO-AT for nominated issues in the established focus
areas, coordinate all consideration and discussion of all nominated issues, maintain an open line
of communication with the SEAT, provide written recommendations to the chairperson of the
Salvage ESC and the DiveESC via SupDive and keep the CWO-AT informed of all progress on
CWO-AT initiated issues. Finally, the CWO-AT chairperson must authorize invitees from
outside or non-voting organizations to attend meetings and present issues.
d. CWO-AT Member Responsibilities. All CWO-AT members must establish effective
communication channels among themselves and institute contact responsibilities to all individual
diving commands, soliciting inputs for discussion from their respective communities.
Additionally, all CWO-AT members must attend and participate in CWO-AT meetings and
virtual discussions, take timely action to complete assigned tasks and provide feedback to their
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communities and commands. The CWO-AT must vote on slating for all CWO-AT positions.
CWO-AT members must be senior CWOs who have demonstrated institutional and technical
expertise needed to fill the vacant position. The candidate’s military bearing and ability to
effectively communicate throughout the dive community must be factors in selection. CWO-AT
candidates must normally be CWO4 or CWO5. In the event a qualified candidate is not
available in time to fill a vacating billet, a senior CWO3 may be considered for the position.
CWO-AT members shall brief the first GO or FO in their chain of command at least annually on
the status of diving forces and diving related issues in their area of responsibility. Brief should
include diving policy, training, funding and manpower, equipment/systems maintenance and
modernization and diving operational readiness.
e. CWO-AT Meeting Frequency. The CWO-AT must meet every six months, but at least
annually, in person. The annual meeting, when permitted by Navy policy, must be conducted in
person. In the event additional meetings are required, every effort will be made to allow
sufficient time for all members to be present. When additional meetings are required, every
effort will be made to conduct those meetings virtually. A quorum of voting members is
required to be present to enact decision making policy on items being addressed by the CWO-
AT. A quorum will consist of 70 percent of voting members who must be present at the meeting.
No proxy votes will be accepted; however, an electronically provided vote made by the voting
member will be accepted.
f. Liaison Reports. A close liaison will be maintained between the CWO-AT and the SEAT
at all times. This should normally be conducted by the submission of a liaison report, similar to
how working groups of the NATO Standardization Office liaise with one another.
g. SEAT Chairperson. The chairperson, SEAT must be a sitting and voting member of the
CWO-AT.
h. CWO-AT Chairperson. The chairperson, CWO-AT must be a sitting and voting member
of the SEAT.
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Figure 9-2
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3. SEAT.
a. SEAT Focus. The SEAT represents the Navy’s community of persistent diving tactical
operations and technical experts and leverages that expertise through collaboration, discussion
and proposal of recommended solutions to issues that affect the broader Navy diving community
and, by extension, dive policies that may affect DoD divers. While the SEAT principally reports
to the DiveESC, it can and must, on request, respond to any TYCOM, SYSCOM or OPNAV
N97 in a capacity to study, advise and report on any diving issue relevant to its charter. Such
reports must be included in the next subsequent report to the DiveESC.
b. SEAT Meeting Periodicity and Efforts. In order to accomplish this task in a methodical
manner, the SEAT must normally meet every six months, but at least annually in person as a
working group and at least annually virtually for coordination and to focus their efforts on the
areas listed in subparagraphs 3b(1) through 3b(4).
(1) TTPs, training and proficiency of enlisted divers;
(2) Equipment, equipment sustainment and maintenance;
(3) Diving operations and ORM; and
(4) Navy enlisted diver ratings, manning and distribution.
c. SEAT Composition. This portion of the instruction must serve as the charter for a SEAT
focused on diving. The SEAT must be a formal forum composed of voting members who are
senior enlisted NDs from NAVSEASYSCOM; Commander, Naval Surface Forces
(COMNAVSURFOR); COMSUBFOR; NAVSPECWARCOM; COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM;
NAVSAFECEN; COMNAVREGMAINTCEN senior enlisted representative; CENEODDIVE;
BUPERS (ND enlisted community manager), BUPERS (ND detailer); MARSOC and the
Underwater Construction Teams (UCT/Seabee Divers). Non-voting Navy invitees may include
other senior Navy enlisted from the EOD, SEAL, DMT or reserve Navy Qualified Diver
communities. Other invitees may include senior enlisted diving qualified personnel from any of
the Military Services. The SEAT must be chaired by a designated NAVSEA 00C fleet MDV,
who the SEAT nominates and SupDive approves.
d. Chairperson Responsibilities. The SEAT chairperson must attend all the SEAT meetings,
represent the SEAT at the DiveESC and the Salvage ESC. On a regular basis the SEAT
chairperson will query the SEAT for nominated issues in the established focus areas, coordinate
all consideration and discussion of all nominated issues, maintain an open line of communication
with the CWO-AT, provide written recommendations to the chairs of the Salvage ECS and the
DiveESC via SupDive and keep the SEAT informed of all progress on SEAT initiated issues.
Finally, the SEAT chairperson must authorize invitees from outside or non-voting organizations
to attend meetings and present issues.
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e. SEAT Member Responsibilities. All SEAT members must establish effective
communication channels among themselves and institute contact responsibilities to all individual
diving commands, soliciting inputs for discussion from their respective communities.
Additionally, all SEAT members must attend and participate in SEAT meetings and virtual
discussions, take timely action to complete assigned tasks and provide feedback to their
communities and commands. The SEAT will vote on slating for all SEAT positions. SEAT
members must be senior MDVs who have demonstrated institutional and technical expertise and
hold the Navy diving community to the highest possible standards of professional excellence.
For billets and positions requiring a dual coded 9580/MMDV, four current or post Command
Master Chiefs (CMDCM) will slate the positions for the SEAT. Only individuals who have been
selected as CMDCMs will be considered for slating to a dual coded NEC 9580/MMDV billet.
SEAT members shall brief the first FO in their respective chain of command at least annually on
the status of diving forces and diving related issues in their respective area of responsibility.
Brief should include TTPs, training and proficiency of enlisted divers; equipment, equipment
sustainment and maintenance; Diving Operations and ORM and Navy enlisted diver ratings,
manning and distribution.
f. SEAT Meeting Frequency. The annual meeting, when permitted by Navy policy, must
be conducted in person. In the event additional meetings are required, every effort will be made
to allow sufficient time for all members to be present. When additional meetings are required,
every effort will be made to conduct those meetings virtually. A quorum of voting members is
required to be present to enact decision making policy on items being addressed by the SEAT. A
quorum will consist of 7 out of 12 voting members who must be present at the meeting. No
proxy votes will be accepted, however; an electronically provided vote made by the voting
member will be accepted.
g. SEAT Chairperson. The chairperson, SEAT must be a sitting and voting member of the
CWO-AT.
h. CWO-AT Chairperson. The chairperson, CWO-AT must be a sitting and voting member
of the SEAT.
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Figure 9-3
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4. Joint Service Diving Organization.
a. Background. Reference (a) assigns SECNAV as the executive manager for JMDT&T
Program Board. SECNAV has assigned OPNAV N97 as the SM via reference (b). OPNAV
N97 accomplishes the tasks as SM through the assignment of the Navy members listed in
subparagraphs 4a(1) through 4a(5).
(1) DepDive.
(2) Deputy for training: Commander, CENEODDIVE.
(3) Chairperson, TTAB: CO, NDSTC.
(4) Deputy for technology: NAVSEA 00C.
(5) Chairperson, MTAB: NAVSEA 00C3B.
b. Organization. Figure 9-4 shows the organization of the JMDT&T Program Board. The
program board is comprised of one-star FOs and GOs. Commander Navy Expeditionary
Command is assigned as the Navy’s FO representative to this body.
c. Commonalities and Enhancements. The JMDT&T must pursue opportunities to identify
and exploit commonalities and enhancements in diving training, equipment and policy.
Examples might include, but are not limited to, areas of:
(1) Enhanced human performance, including developments in training and equipment
which provide a systematic approach to improving productivity, competence, problem solving
and decision making and cognitive dominance and resiliency.
(2) Diver telemetry, diver tracking and diver avoidance through the application of
current-day information technology data collection and transmission systems married to
command and control information systems and boat or diver transport craft propulsion control
architecture.
(3) Reduced footprint and weight of diver survivability systems (e.g., small footprint or
lightweight collapsible recompression chamber, diver rewarming system).
(4) Diver lessons learned and collaboration tools, scalable approved secure commercial
cloud service.
(5) Mission planning and operational risk assessment tools.
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Figure 9-4
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5. Support to the NATO UDWG.
a. NATO Military Committee Maritime Standardization Board UDWG. OPNAV N97, as
designated by CNO N3/N5, is the U.S. Head of Delegation at these meetings.
(1) DepDive, as delegated by OPNAV N97, executes the duties and responsibilities of
U.S. Head of Delegation and must issue a precept prior to each engagement.
(2) SupDive, when directed by OPNAV N97, will serve as the principal organizer and
coordinator for the annual UDWGs.
b. No later than 7 months prior to the next UDWG, SupDive will submit recommended
attendees to DepDive. The recommended minimum personnel must be from: OPNAV N97 dive
branch, medical representative from NAVSEA 00C or NEDU, SupDive, at least one MDV from
NAVSEA 00C and MDVs or technical experts from NEDU. Additional technical experts from
other commands should be considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis (i.e., U.S. Coast
Guard or NAVSPECWARCOM).
c. No later than 4 months prior to the next UDWG, personnel designated to attend the
upcoming UDWG must submit either their updates or recommendations to DepDive regarding
the UDWG required action list, posted on the NATO Web site. DepDive will then consolidate
and submit required action list item updates to the UDWG secretary.
d. Unless otherwise agreed upon, funding for the travel to UDWG will be paid for by Navy
International Program Office (NIPO). Approximately six personnel will be attending each year's
UDWG.
e. No later than 1 month prior to the next UDWG, DepDive will submit security clearance
information to the UDWG secretary and have written verification of access for the event. All
required action list items must also be completed and updated to the UDWG secretary at this
time as well.
f. All personnel attending the UDWG must arrive early enough prior to the first day in
order to ensure logistics, security and jet lag do not adversely impact on execution of duties.
g. A consolidated after-action report for the NATO UDWG must be produced no later than
30 days following the completion of the working group and must be briefed at the next
DiveESC.
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APPENDIX A
REFERENCES
(a) DoD Instruction 3224.04 of 26 May 2017
(b) SECNAV ltr of 3 February 2012, Assignment as Single Manager for Joint Military Diving
Technology and Training (JMDT&T)
(c) 10 U.S.C. §5011 through §5038
(d) NAVSEA SS521-AG-PRO-010 Revision 7 Change A, Dive Manual
(e) OPNAVINST 5102.1D
(f) SECNAV M-5216.5
(g) OPNAVINST 1000.16L
(h) NAVMED P-117, Manual of the Medical Department
(i) NAVPERS 15560D, Naval Military Personnel Manual
(j) DoD 7000.14-R, Volume 7A, Chapter 11, Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation, August 2013
(k) NAVSEA00CINST 10560.2E
(l) NAVSEAINST 3150.1A
(m) NAVSEA SS521-AA-MAN-010 Revision 3 Change A
(n) SECNAVINST 3900.39E
(o) BUMEDINST 6320.38B
(p) OPNAVINST 5100.19F
(q) OPNAVINST 3120.32D
(r) OPNAVINST 3500.39D
(s) OPNAVINST 5450.180F
(t) NAVSEA SS800-AG-MAN-010/P-9290 Revision A, Change 3
(u) OPNAVINST 1500.75D
(v) OPNAVINST 4441.12D
(w) International Maritime Organization publication 645, Guidelines for Vessels with Dynamic
Positioning Systems
(x) OSHA Standard 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910
(y) NAVEDTRA 43910-F, Military Diver PQS
(z) DoD Directive 1322.18 of 23 February 2017
(aa) DoD Instruction 3025.21 of 27 February 2013
(ab) SECNAVINST 5400.15C Ch 1
(ac) OPNAVINST 6400.1C
(ad) DoDI 6055.07 of 06 June 2011
(ae) OSHA Standard 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 532.281
(af) NAVSEAINST 3151.1
(ag) DoDINST 3025.21
(ah) OPNAVINST 5100.23J (Navy Safety and Occupational Health)
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APPENDIX B
DEFINITIONS
1. Administrative Control (ADCON). Direction or exercise of authority over subordinate or
other organizations in respect to administration and support, including organization of Service
forces, control of resources and equipment, personnel management, unit logistics, individual and
unit training, readiness, mobilization, demobilization, discipline and other matters not included
in the operational missions of the subordinate or other organizations.
2. Alteration. A modification to the approved configuration(s) of any diving equipment or
certified system.
3. Authorized for Navy Use (ANU). Designation applied to diving equipment, tools,
accessories and portable, ashore and afloat hyperbaric system components, which have
undergone design safety reviews, test and evaluation, or both, to ensure diver safety. The ANU
list provides a list of approved diving equipment which has undergone technical design reviews
to ensure that it meets NAVSEA 00C acceptability, diver safety standards and fleet operating
and inter-operability requirements and must be maintained at a minimal number of items to the
extent possible.
4. Breath-hold swimming. Swimming beneath the surface of the water without the aid of
diving equipment beyond a snorkel, mask and fins and requires the diver to hold his or her breath
until resurfacing. This is not considered diving and compressed air consumed.
5. Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CENEODDIVE). A NETC
subordinate learning center located in Panama City, FL, that exercises ADCON of NDSTC and
provides oversight and control of career progression of rated Navy EOD technicians and Navy
Qualified Diver personnel.
6. Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering (CSFE). A NETC subordinate learning center
located in Port Hueneme, CA, that provides oversight and control of career progression to
underwater construction technicians.
7. Center for Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare Combatant Craft (SWCC)
(CENSEALSWCC). A NETC subordinate learning center located in Coronado, CA, that
provides oversight and control of Navy SEAL and SWCC career progression for the special
warfare operator and special warfare boat operator ratings.
8. Command Diving Officer. A commissioned officer directly responsible to the CO for safe
diving operations.
9. Common-type Training. Training in diving procedures conducted at DoD-approved diving
schools that are applicable to two or more Military Departments and the USSOCOM in the
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normal execution of their assigned missions. Specifically excludes training that is unique to
USSOCOM regardless of the Military Department affiliation of the trainees.
10. Dive Bill. Formal guidance which fully describes the command’s standards for the conduct
of diving and diving-related operations and administration. It may also be called the command
dive instruction.
11. Diver Proficiency. Dive proficiency, a combination of currency and competency, is the
skillfulness in the application of fundamentals derived from practice and familiarity with
command diving systems in the environment they are required to operate and will be
demonstrated during all OFRP like training cycles, short-range training plans and LRTPs,
including individual semi-annual personal requalification or proficiency dives.
12. Diving. For the purpose of this instruction, diving is defined as any underwater activity or
related hyperbaric facility operations, to include breath-hold diving, in which personnel are
subjected to elevated ambient pressure and use equipment, such as:
a. Surface-supplied diving systems and equipment including diver weight handling
equipment and equipment used to support saturation diving operations, including the submarine
rescue chambers.
b. SCUBA, including open circuit, semi-closed circuit and closed circuit designs using any
breathing medium.
c. Pressurized undersea habitats.
d. Dry-deck shelter, including swimmer delivery vehicles, submarine lock-in and out trunks,
divers’ propulsion vehicles and associated certified life support systems. This definition is not
intended to propose an inclusive definition of scope of certification for the family of systems
mentioned.
e. Manned hyperbaric chambers, recompression chambers and diving simulators such as
diver support systems for aviation escape trainers.
f. Diver tool systems, which are pneumatically, electrically, hydraulically driven or
explosively actuated.
g. Any other diving life support systems or diving equipment utilized by military divers not
specified in paragraphs 3 or 12.
13. Diving Operational Readiness Inspection (DORI). An operational inspection of a unit’s
ability to safely conduct mission centric diving operations in each diving mode available to the
unit’s divers.
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14. Diving Requalification. All qualified NDs must semi-annually demonstrate their fitness and
ability to continue diving operations. This is conducted per reference (a) standards.
15. Diving Supervisor. PQS qualified supervisor of specific diving operations and particular
dives. Note: “Unlimited Diving Supervisor” should only be used to designate personnel who
have completed and currently hold supervisory level qualification for all diver life support
systems authorized for use by the assigned diving command.
16. Diving Systems. Any system designed for surface supplied diving, saturation diving, diving
gear (excluding SCUBA) or handling systems which will maneuver divers during manned
operations.
17. Diving Tools and Equipment. Diving specific tools and equipment developed for use by
qualified diving personnel. Excluded are tools and equipment that are developed for unique
diving applications by or for a single Military Department or USSOCOM.
18. Diving Waiver. Waivers are official authorization to depart from established operating
procedures or safety standards to use diving equipment that is not certified or ANU, to exceed
specified operational limits, or deviate from established personnel qualifications. A waiver is a
one-time intentional deviation from established requirements for compelling reasons to ensure
the successful completion of a specific event. A specific event can be a single dive or a
particular timeframe to accomplish a particular single mission (See paragraph 20). This does not
apply to medical waivers for disqualifying conditions as per reference (h).
19. Emergency Procedures (EP). Immediate actions executed in a diving emergency. These
actions are normally memorized and may be the first steps taken to limit harm to divers or
damage to diving systems.
20. Exception to Policy (ETP). An intentional long term deviation from established
requirements for compelling reasons. A deviation required for more than one single event or
mission. A deviation that affects two or more diving communities of interest. OPNAV MOA
and MOU have the effect of an ETP (See paragraph 18).
21. Exceptional Exposure Air Dive. A dive which involves substantially greater risk of
decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity or exposure to the elements. Exceptional exposure
dives include any air dive deeper than 190 feet of sea water (fsw), any dive where the in water
decompression is greater than 90 minutes or any surface decompression dive that exceeds 120
minutes of chamber oxygen time.
22. Failure Analysis Reporting system. An automated means to report, resolve and track
material failures or deficiencies with USN diving and hyperbaric systems.
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23. Hyperbaric Systems. Any system designed for manned recompression chamber operations or
on bottom habitats.
24. Joint Acquisition Programs. Any DoD acquisition system, subsystem or technology program
that involves formal management or funding by more than one DoD Component during any
phase of its life cycle.
25. Joint Military Diving Training and Technology (JMDT&T) Program Board. A board
composed of a FO or GO from each Military Service that acts in an advisory capacity to the SM
for JMDT&T and establishes joint service diving program requirements. The responsibilities of
the JMDT&T are outlined in reference (a).
26. Joint Military Diving Training and Technology (JMDT&T) Single Manager (SM). The
Navy FO designated by SECNAV to manage the JMDT&T program. The responsibilities of the
SM are outlined in reference (b).
27. Maintenance Requirement Card. Components of the Navy’s PMS program which provide
detailed maintenance actions, resources and personnel required to satisfy a specific maintenance
requirement.
28. Master Diver (MDV). A senior Navy Qualified Diver who has been awarded NEC code
MMDV.
29. Master Underwater Construction Diver. A senior Navy Qualified Diver who has been
awarded NEC code 5933/B18A.
30. Military Technical Acceptance Board (MTAB). A board composed of senior service diving
officers who have the authority to approve service specific tools or equipment, techniques,
procedures and publications for joint diving use and perform other such functions, as designated
by the program board.
31. Mishap. Any unplanned or unexpected event causing death, injury, occupational illness,
including days away from work, job transfer or restriction and material loss or damage.
a. Hazard. A work place condition that might result in injury, health impairment, illness,
disease or death to any worker who is exposed to the condition or which might result in damage
to or loss of property or equipment.
b. Near Mishap. Is an act or event which injury or damage was avoided merely by chance.
c. Restricted Work, Limited Duty, Light Duty or Job Transfer. Restricted work activity or
temporary transfer from that work occurs when, as a result of a work-related injury or illness, a
supervisor or health care professional keeps, or recommends keeping, a civilian employee from
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doing the routine functions of his or her job, or from working the full work day that the
employee would have been scheduled to work before the injury or illness occurred. The
employee has not lost work time, but is restricted from routine functions. The military
equivalent of restricted work is Light or Limited Duty.
32. Navy Diver (ND).
a. Qualified ND. Any active duty Sailor, Navy Reservist or DON civilian who has
successfully completed an initial diving course of instruction (normally held at NDSTC in
Panama City, FL or Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, CA) which
qualified them to wear USN diving insignia.
b. Currently Qualified ND. Any qualified Navy Qualified Diver who has conducted at least
four USN dives in the preceding 6 months.
c. Proficient ND. Any qualified Navy Qualified Diver who is deemed by the CO or OIC to
have met pre-deployment training, operational employment or daily dive training requirements.
d. Qualified Foreign Military Diver. A qualified non-U.S. military diver who is deemed
medically, physically and operationally fit (per their nation’s military requirements and
standards) to conduct diving operations.
e. Qualified U.S. Military Diver. Active duty and reserve military personnel and civilian
employees of the DoD who have successfully completed formal training and achieved at least
initial accession training in one or more military diving systems at a U.S. military diving school
and have maintained their qualifications.
33. Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC). A CENEODDIVE subordinate
learning site located at Naval Support Activity, Panama City, FL. NDSTC trains qualified
candidates into proficient military divers in support of naval, joint and allied operations.
Additionally, NDSTC provides all diver individual training in the continental United States for
foreign military students.
34. Operating Procedures. Detailed check sheets that describe proper operations of diving and
hyperbaric systems.
35. Preventative Maintenance System (PMS). The Navy-wide system designed to maintain
equipment within specifications through preventive maintenancep identifying and correcting
potential problems before the equipment or system becomes inoperable.
36. Personal Dive Log. A chronological listing of each USN dive made that includes, at a
minimum, diver name, rate and rank, dive apparatus, date, time, location, depth and duration.
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37. Recompression Chamber Log. A legal record that details all recompression chamber
procedures and events during system operations.
38. Safety Officer. The officer or senior leader directly responsible to the CO for implementing
a comprehensive safety program based on objectives established by the CO, promoting
maximum communication of safety information, monitoring the submission of required safety
reports to ensure accuracy and timeliness and maintaining appropriate safety records and
statistics to include lessons learned.
39. Service common. Equipment, material, supplies and services, including base operating
support, adopted by a Service to support its own forces and those assigned to the combatant
commands; items and services defined as Service common by one Service are not necessarily
Service common for all other Services. References (c) and (d) refer.
40. Special Operations Forces (SOF) unique. The term SOF unique is specifically used in
reference (b) to delineate both OPNAV and USSOCOM responsibilities and authorities
regarding SM of JMDT&T. For the purposes of this instruction, SOF unique must be considered
synonymous with the term special operations peculiar. References (c) through (e) refer. SOF
associated diving policy is not governed by this instruction.
41. Special Operations Peculiar. Equipment, material, supplies and services required for special
operations missions for which there is no Service common requirement per reference (e). These
are limited to items and services initially designed for, or used by, SOF until adopted for Service
common use by one or more Military Service; modifications approved by the Commander,
USSOCOM for application to standard items and services used by the Military Services and
items and services approved by the Commander, USSOCOM as critically urgent for the
immediate accomplishment of a special operations mission per references (c) and (d). Special
operations peculiar associated policy is not governed by this instruction.
42. System Certification Authority (SCA). The SCA within COMNAVSEASYSCOM delegated
responsibility for execution of the diving and manned hyperbaric systems certification program
for afloat, portable and ashore systems as specified in reference (a) and references (f) through (i).
43. System Certification. The procedure for independent technical review, survey, test and
approval to ensure material and procedural adequacy of diving equipment or systems to perform
safely within specified operational limits.
44. Technical Program Manager. The cognizant technical authority over the development and
approval of alterations to diving systems.
45. Technical Training Acceptance Board (TTAB). A board composed of senior service
detachment officers at NDSTC who coordinate and recommend standardized diver common type
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training under the purview of the Single Manager and perform such other functions as designated
by the program board.
46. Waiver. See paragraph 18.
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APPENDIX C
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
Abbreviation/Acronym Meaning
ABCANZ America, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
ADCON administrative control
ALSA air-land-sea application
ANU authorized for Navy use
BUMED Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
BUPERS
CDD
Bureau of Navy Personnel
Construction Dive Detachment
CENEODDIVE Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving
CENSEALSWCC Center for Sea, Air, and Land and Special Warfare
Combatant Craft
CI-OFP COMNAVFACENGCOM Capital Improvements –
Ocean Facilities Program
CMDCM
CME
Command Master Chief
Continuing Medical Education
CNO Chief of Naval Operations
CNO N093 Surgeon General of the Navy
CNO N3/N5 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans
and Strategy
CO Commanding Officer
CO2 carbon dioxide
COMNAVFACENGCOM Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command
COMNAVREGMAINTCEN Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center
COMNAVSEASYSCOM Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
COMNAVSPECWARCOM Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command
COMNAVEXPDCMBTCOM Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
COMPACFLT Commander, U.S Pacific Fleet
COMSUBFOR Commander, Submarine Forces
CWO Chief Warrant Officer
CWO-AT Chief Warrant Officer-Advisory Team
DepDive Deputy Director for Diving
DiveESC Diving Executive Steering Committee
DJRS Dive Jump Reporting System
DMT Diving Medical Technician
DoD Department of Defense
DON Department of the Navy
DORI Diving Operational Readiness Inspection
DSA diving safety assessment
EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal
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Abbreviation/Acronym Meaning
EP emergency procedure
ESC executive steering committee
ETP exception to policy
FLTMPS Fleet Training Management and Planning System
FO flag officer
fsw feet sea water
GO general officer
HAZREP hazard report
HM Hospital Corpsman
IDC Independent Duty Corpsmen
IDTC inter-deployment training cycle
ILS integrated logistics support
ISIC immediate superior in command
JAGMAN Judge Advocate General Manual
LOK level of knowledge
LRTP long range training plan
MDT&T Military Diving Technology and Training
MDV Master Divers
MOA memorandum of agreement
MOU memorandum of understanding
MTAB Military Technical Acceptance Board
N43 Director, Fleet Maintenance
N97 Director for Undersea Warfare
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO UDWG North Atlantic Treaty Organization Underwater Diving
Working Group
NAVMED Navy medicine
NAVPERS Navy Personnel Command
NAVSAFECEN Naval Safety Center
NAVSEA 00C NAVSEASYSCOM Director of Ocean Engineering
NAVSEA 00C3B NAVSEASYSCOM Supervisor of Diving
NAVSEA 05 Deputy Commander for Ship Design, Integration and
Naval Engineering
NAVSEA 07 NAVSEASYSCOM Deputy Commander for Undersea
Warfare
NAVSEASYSCOM Naval Sea Systems Command
NAVSPECWARCOM Naval Special Warfare Command
NAVOSH
NCF
Navy Occupational Safety and Health
Naval Construction Force
ND Navy diver
NDSTC Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
NEC Navy enlisted classification
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Abbreviation/Acronym Meaning
NEDU Navy Experimental Diving Unit
NETC Naval Education and Training Command
NIPO Navy International Program Office
NSMRL Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory
OIC Officer in Charge
OPNAV Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
OPNAV N31 OPNAV Director, Operations and Plans Division
OPNAV N43 OPNAV Director, Fleet Readiness Division
OPNAV N52 OPNAV Director, International Engagement
OPNAV N80 OPNAV Director, Programming
OPNAV N95 OPNAV Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division
OPNAV N97 OPNAV Director, Undersea Warfare Division
OPNAVINST Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction
OPREP operational reporting
ORM Operational Risk Management
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OFRP Optimized Fleet Response Plan
PEP personnel exchange program
PMS preventative maintenance system
PQ physically qualified
PQS personnel qualification standards
QASP
QWL
Quality Assurance Surveillance Program
qualified watchstander list
RAC risk assessment codes
RDT&E research, development, testing, and evaluation
SCA system certification authority
SCUBA self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
Seabees construction battalions
SEAL Sea, Air, And Land
SEAT
SecDef
Senior Enlisted Advisory Team
Secretary of Defense
SECNAV Secretary of the Navy
SIB safety investigation board
SM single manager
SOF special operations forces
SRDRS Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System
STANAG NATO Standardization Agreement
SupDive Supervisor Of Diving
SUPSALV Supervisor Of Salvage
SWCC special warfare combatant craft
SYSCOM systems command
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Abbreviation/Acronym Meaning
TPO Technical Project Officer
TTAB Technical Training Acceptance Board
TTP tactics, techniques, and procedures
TYCOM Type Commander
UCT Underwater Construction Teams
UDWG Underwater Diving Working Group
UMO Undersea medical officers
USFLTFORCOM United States Fleet Forces Command
USN United States Navy
USSOCOM U.S. Special Operations Command
WESS Web-enabled Safety System